Three generations of women, two Social Security applications, one case of Social Security fraud.

When Betty Gowen was released from prison in 2020, she applied for Title II Retirement Insurance Benefits. But there was one problem — according to records, she’d been receiving benefits despite being incarcerated since 2011.

As it turns out, the woman’s daughter and granddaughter had filled out an application in her name. Through their fraudulent actions, they gathered up $172,952 which they split between them.

Their resulting sentences consisted of prison time, house arrest, and demands to pay back all the money they stole. It shows that crime doesn’t pay, even if the cost takes a while to catch up.

As we’ve covered, Social Security fraud is common among family members. Have you ever known someone involved in a situation like this? Share your story in the comments, then follow us on Facebook and Twitter.