{"id":370565,"date":"2021-11-22T08:00:07","date_gmt":"2021-11-22T05:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/mta-negligence-let-possible-access-a-ride-fraud-go-undetected\/"},"modified":"2021-11-22T08:00:07","modified_gmt":"2021-11-22T05:00:07","slug":"mta-negligence-let-possible-access-a-ride-fraud-go-undetected","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/mta-negligence-let-possible-access-a-ride-fraud-go-undetected\/","title":{"rendered":"#MTA negligence let possible Access-A-Ride fraud go undetected"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;<strong>#MTA negligence let possible Access-A-Ride fraud go undetected<\/strong>&#8221;<\/p>\n<div>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignleft\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>Lackluster strategies for identifying fraud in\u00a0the MTA\u2019s Access-A-Ride program allowed potential criminal activity to persist unchecked, the MTA Inspector <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/general\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"3\" title=\"General\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">General<\/a> said.<\/p>\n<p>An audit by the IG\u2019s office released Monday found Access-A-Ride contractor Curb Mobility, which provides on-demand rides to New Yorkers with disabilities, failed to enact specific fraud-detection strategies requested by MTA officials in 2018.<\/p>\n<p>The revelation\u00a0comes days after an Access-A-Ride driver was criminally charged in Queens for bilking the MTA out of nearly $70,000 worth of fake rides.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOutsourcing fraud controls to a contractor, and not even verifying that they are being completed, is a bad idea,\u201d IG Carolyn Pokorny said in a statement. \u201cIt is imperative that the MTA\u2026 ensure that fraud is detected, and deterred, before taxpayers and riders foot the bill.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>City-licensed Access-A-Ride driver James Laverty, 72, was arraigned Friday on charges that he submitted claims for bogus rides that had been requested through Curb\u2019s mobile <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/11\/MTA-Access-A-Ride-02.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"According to a new report, an audit found Access-A-Ride contractor Curb Mobility failed to enact specific fraud-detection strategies requested by MTA officials in 2018.\" class=\"wp-image-20223743\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/11\/MTA-Access-A-Ride-02.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/11\/MTA-Access-A-Ride-02.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/11\/MTA-Access-A-Ride-02.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>According to a new report, an audit found Access-A-Ride contractor Curb Mobility failed to enact specific fraud-detection strategies requested by MTA officials in 2018.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Marcus Santos<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Laverty, of Freeport, falsely claimed to have picked up the same woman 661 times between September 2020 and February 2021, charging the MTA $69,890 for the <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/trip-and-travel\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"10\" title=\"Trip &amp; Travel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">trip<\/a>s. <\/p>\n<p>In reality, the vehicle was empty, prosecutors said. He faces up to 15 years behind bars for grand larceny, identity theft and falsifying business records, the DA said.<\/p>\n<p>Transit officials only asked Curb if it had conducted requested anti-fraud analyses in early, after the IG\u2019s office began the investigation into Laverty, the audit said \u2014 allowing potential fraud to go unchecked.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/11\/MTA-Access-A-Ride-01.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"The revelation comes days after an Access-A-Ride driver was criminally charged in Queens for bilking the MTA out of nearly $70,000 worth of fake rides.\" class=\"wp-image-20223751\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/11\/MTA-Access-A-Ride-01.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/11\/MTA-Access-A-Ride-01.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/11\/MTA-Access-A-Ride-01.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>The revelation comes days after an Access-A-Ride driver was criminally charged in Queens for bilking the MTA out of nearly $70,000 worth of fake rides.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Daniel Shapiro\/New York Post<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cSignificantly more cases could have been developed if Paratransit and Curb had performed all planned analyses to detect patterns needing further review,\u201d the audit said. \u201cIn 2020, Curb referred just 2 cases to Paratransit for further review. However, we found that the number could have been significantly higher if Curb had performed the other analyses\u2026 Through 2020, the program\u2019s fraud controls as implemented did not provide sufficient ability to detect many cases of possible fraud.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>IG investigators also dinged the MTA itself \u201cdid not have sufficient resources\u201d to conduct its own quality checks of Curb\u2019s data.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cParatransit did not ensure that Curb had implemented all fraud detection methods the agency had required it to perform. As a result, the program\u2019s anti-fraud efforts did not detect some additional potential cases of fraud,\u201d the audit said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/11\/MTA-Access-A-Ride-03.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"According to the Inspector General, the MTA itself &quot;did not have sufficient resources&quot; to conduct its own quality checks of Curb's data.\" class=\"wp-image-20223764\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/11\/MTA-Access-A-Ride-03.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/11\/MTA-Access-A-Ride-03.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/11\/MTA-Access-A-Ride-03.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>According to the Inspector General, the MTA itself \u201cdid not have sufficient resources\u201d to conduct its own quality checks of Curb\u2019s data.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Paul Martinka for New York Post<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Curb currently handles 95 percent of Access-A-Ride \u201ce-hail\u201d trips, according to the IG \u2014 but its contract with the MTA terminates at the end of this year. The MTA designated the company a \u201cnon-responsible vendor\u201d earlier this year over procurement ethics violations, barring it from taking on state contracts for five years.<\/p>\n<p>A rep for Curb said the company had not seen the complete IG report.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSince 2017, Curb has continuously and proactively worked with the MTA to identify and develop anti-fraud functions.\u00a0 Unfortunately, several of these verbal and written recommendations have not been acted on, and in some cases ignored by the MTA,\u201d the company said in statement. \u201cIn one case, Curb implemented an anti-fraud measure that would limit the number of rides any individual could have with the same driver in the span of a couple of days. One month later the MTA requested it be deactivated. Curb takes its anti-fraud responsibilities seriously and will continue to work with the MTA to provide the best possible service.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The IG recommended the MTA put fraud detection requirements in any future e-hail contracts.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNew York City Transit\u2019s Access-A-Ride Paratransit system is a lifeline for New Yorkers with disabilities or health conditions that prevent them from using buses or subways. Stealing money used to provide this vital service is despicable,\u201d MTA Chief Accessibility Officer Quemuel Arroyo said in a statement. \u201cWe expect the vendors that we contract with to have the most current and the most stringent mechanisms in place to ensure that the system is run honestly and efficiently. The MTA is cooperating with the District Attorney to ensure anyone responsible is held accountable under the law.\u201d\n                        <\/p><\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News<\/a> articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2021\/11\/22\/mta-negligence-let-possible-access-a-ride-fraud-go-undetected\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;#MTA negligence let possible Access-A-Ride fraud go undetected&#8221; Lackluster strategies for identifying fraud in\u00a0the MTA\u2019s Access-A-Ride program allowed potential criminal activity to persist unchecked, the MTA Inspector General said. An audit by the IG\u2019s office released Monday found Access-A-Ride contractor Curb Mobility, which provides on-demand rides to New Yorkers with disabilities, failed to enact specific&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":370566,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/11\/MTA-Access-A-Ride-04-1.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=1024","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[70897],"tags":[119959,119958,71452,71169],"class_list":["post-370565","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-11-22-21","tag-access-a-ride","tag-mta","tag-taxis"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/370565","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=370565"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/370565\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/370566"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=370565"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=370565"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=370565"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}