{"id":90797,"date":"2020-10-16T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-10-16T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/the-dark-side-of-the-ppp-loan-program\/"},"modified":"2020-10-16T15:00:00","modified_gmt":"2020-10-16T12:00:00","slug":"the-dark-side-of-the-ppp-loan-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/the-dark-side-of-the-ppp-loan-program\/","title":{"rendered":"#The dark side of the PPP loan program"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a29bb6f19958\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a29bb6f19958\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/the-dark-side-of-the-ppp-loan-program\/#Lack_of_oversight_in_coronavirus_spending_facilitated_historic_fraud\" >Lack of oversight in coronavirus spending facilitated historic fraud.<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/the-dark-side-of-the-ppp-loan-program\/#Wait%E2%80%94what_loan\" >Wait\u2014what loan?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/the-dark-side-of-the-ppp-loan-program\/#How_did_this_happen\" >How did this happen?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/the-dark-side-of-the-ppp-loan-program\/#This_weeks_top_technology_stories\" >This week\u2019s top technology stories<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;<strong>#The dark side of the PPP loan program<br \/>\n<\/strong>&#8221;<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"article-sub-head\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lack_of_oversight_in_coronavirus_spending_facilitated_historic_fraud\"><\/span>Lack of oversight in coronavirus spending facilitated historic fraud.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-content-wrapper\">\n<p>This spring, the coronavirus pandemic quarantined millions of Americans inside their homes for months. In a desperate attempt to save an economy that went into freefall practically overnight, the government went on the largest, fastest spending spree in history.<\/p>\n<p>One of the biggest slices of the stimulus pie went to businesses. In fewer than six months, the better part of a trillion dollars was spent propping up millions of businesses nationwide.<\/p>\n<p>Now that the dust is starting to settle, questions are mounting about how funds were distributed, whether there were sufficient safeguards to protect the public purse, and just how much fraud has occurred. The answers are causing significant alarm. Coronavirus stimulus may have enabled the largest-ever theft of government funds. Criminals harnessed the power of the internet to exploit what some call federal government negligence to steal untold billions of taxpayer dollars, much that will never be recovered.<\/p>\n<p>On March 27, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the first of several relief packages that have cost taxpayers a cumulative $6 trillion to date. To put that in perspective, the 1930s New Deal would cost roughly $800 billion in today\u2019s dollars.<\/p>\n<p>Economic relief for businesses, via loans and grants through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), was one of the biggest line items in these bills. EIDL, which predates the better-known PPP loans, offered grants of up to $10,000 and loans of up to $2 million; PPP provided forgivable loans of $10 million max. To date, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sba.gov\/node\/1671216\">$525 billion<\/a> has gone to the PPP; another <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sba.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2020-09\/EIDL%20COVID-19%20Loan%209.14.20.pdf\">$190 billion<\/a> has been <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>roved for EIDL, according to the Small Business Administration (SBA), which implemented the programs.<\/p>\n<p>Three-quarters of a trillion dollars is an enormous sum, but most consider it money well spent for saving millions of American jobs and businesses.<\/p>\n<p>Be that as it may, in its haste to distribute funds, independent oversight agencies now say SBA neglected to effectively protect against fraud, even after being warned. It\u2019s now believed that billions vanished due to what some, including members of Congress, label mismanagement by SBA. Double payments, loans and grants to phantom businesses, identity theft, and other misconduct have been rampant. Criminals have exploited the lack of oversight to line their pockets, in some cases to the tune of millions.<\/p>\n<p>Alarms were <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/arthurakay\/status\/1265629368770088963?s=20\">raised<\/a> almost as soon as funds started hitting bank accounts last spring. On May 5, two men became the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/politics\/2020\/05\/05\/coronavirus-first-fraud-case-involving-ppp-small-business-program\/3085676001\/\">first charged with PPP fraud<\/a>. Assistant Attorney <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/general\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"3\" title=\"General\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">General<\/a> Brian A. Benczkowski told <em>USA Today <\/em>that they would be the first of many.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have a lot of leads,\u201d Benczkowski said.<\/p>\n<p>By the end of July, the SBA Office of Inspector General (OIG) had received more than 5,000 complaints from financial institutions flagging incidents of potential fraud in the programs. \u201cNine financial institutions have reported a combined total of $187.3 million in suspected fraudulent transactions,\u201d OIG stated in its <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sba.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2020-07\/SBA_OIG_Report_20-16_508.1.pdf\">preliminary report<\/a> on July 28.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur preliminary review reveals strong indicators of widespread potential fraud in the program.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The full report is due out later this month.<\/p>\n<p>OIG has also been inundated with reports of identity theft. On Oct. 1, Inspector General Hannibal \u201cMike\u201d Ware told a Congressional committee that they\u2019ve received thousands of complaints thus far\u2014and climbing.<\/p>\n<h1 id=\"h-wait-what-loan\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Wait%E2%80%94what_loan\"><\/span>Wait\u2014what loan?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<p>In recent months, the millions who obtained PPP loans received letters from SBA notifying them that payments were deferred until July 2021.<\/p>\n<p>To many, the letters were a relief. The deferment gave them more time to apply for <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.globenewswire.com\/news-release\/2020\/10\/09\/2106009\/0\/en\/SBA-and-Treasury-Announce-Simpler-PPP-Forgiveness-for-Loans-of-50-000-or-Less.html\">loan forgiveness<\/a>, and for the government to consider it, which is likely to be a lengthier process than applying for the loan itself.<\/p>\n<p>To thousands of others, the letters were a surprise. They hadn\u2019t taken out any loan.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">As if 2020 needed to create more headaches for CPAs, I just heard from a client who was notified by the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/SBA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#SBA<\/a> that his SSN had been fraudulently used to apply for an <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/EIDL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#EIDL<\/a>  <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/dklynsma?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@dklynsma<\/a>  <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/tax?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#tax<\/a> <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/fraud?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#fraud<\/a> <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/SyRdE8cmc1\">https:\/\/t.co\/SyRdE8cmc1<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Deborah Fox, CPA (@DebFoxFinancial) <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DebFoxFinancial\/status\/1312160091282395137?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 2, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>\u201cPeople are finding out for the very first time that their identities were stolen when they hear from SBA that their loan payments are going to be deferred,\u201d Inspector General Ware testified to the Congressional Small Business Committee, \u201cAnd they\u2019re like, \u2018What loan payments? I\u2019ve never had a loan from SBA.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is routine. We\u2019re getting this dozens of times every single day. We\u2019re hearing some heartbreaking stories out there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A business owner in Florida who asked not to be named was among those shocked to receive an $80,000 bill for a loan they never took out.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dailydot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/SBA-notice-59x44.jpg 59w, https:\/\/www.dailydot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/SBA-notice-223x167.jpg 223w, https:\/\/www.dailydot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/SBA-notice-467x350.jpg 467w, https:\/\/www.dailydot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/SBA-notice-533x400.jpg 533w, https:\/\/www.dailydot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/SBA-notice-683x512.jpg 683w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dailydot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/SBA-notice-683x512.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-887658\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dailydot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/SBA-notice-59x44.jpg 59w, https:\/\/www.dailydot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/SBA-notice-223x167.jpg 223w, https:\/\/www.dailydot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/SBA-notice-467x350.jpg 467w, https:\/\/www.dailydot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/SBA-notice-533x400.jpg 533w, https:\/\/www.dailydot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/SBA-notice-683x512.jpg 683w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dailydot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/SBA-notice-683x512.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-887658\"><figcaption>Letter from SBA notifying a business owner that they owed $80,000 for a loan they say they never applied for.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>West Virginia resident Em Carpenter, an editor at <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ordinary-times.com\/\">Ordinary Times<\/a>, also received an unwelcome surprise in her credit report over the summer. Someone applied for an SBA loan in her name. Via <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Twitter<\/a> direct message, she told the Daily Dot that she immediately tried to get to the bottom of the matter. Carpenter, who doesn\u2019t own a business, said that she wasn\u2019t contacted by a bank or SBA to verify the application. Nor has she been able to get to the bottom of it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have tried to contact the SBA, but the hold time has been 2-3 hours and I don\u2019t have that kind of time,\u201d Carpenter said.<\/p>\n<p>Carpenter said she filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and placed a fraud alert on her credit. This was in August. Two months later, she\u2019s still waiting to hear back.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t even know if it was approved. All I can see is that they ran my credit,\u201d she said, \u201c\u2026I have not heard anything.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Carpenter doesn\u2019t even know if the loan was approved, but it hasn\u2019t shown up on her credit, so she\u2019s hoping it was denied.<\/p>\n<p>David Goldstein, a senior fellow at <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/civic-ventures.com\/\">Civic Ventures<\/a>, had the same experience. On Aug. 5, one day after a presumed thief tried to use Carpenter\u2019s social security number (SSN) to apply for an SBA loan, Goldstein received word from Experian that someone had done the same to him.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uploads.dailydot.com\/2020\/10\/Experian-Fraud-Alert.png?fit=scale&amp;fm=png&amp;h=44&amp;ixlib=php-3.3.0&amp;w=95&amp;wpsize=fp_100_44 100w, https:\/\/uploads.dailydot.com\/2020\/10\/Experian-Fraud-Alert.png?fit=scale&amp;fm=png&amp;h=167&amp;ixlib=php-3.3.0&amp;w=362&amp;wpsize=fp_380_167 380w, https:\/\/uploads.dailydot.com\/2020\/10\/Experian-Fraud-Alert.png?fit=scale&amp;fm=png&amp;h=354&amp;ixlib=php-3.3.0&amp;w=768&amp;wpsize=medium_large 768w, https:\/\/uploads.dailydot.com\/2020\/10\/Experian-Fraud-Alert.png?fit=scale&amp;fm=png&amp;h=350&amp;ixlib=php-3.3.0&amp;w=759&amp;wpsize=fp_800_350 800w, https:\/\/uploads.dailydot.com\/2020\/10\/Experian-Fraud-Alert.png?fit=scale&amp;fm=png&amp;h=472&amp;ixlib=php-3.3.0&amp;w=1024&amp;wpsize=large 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"https:\/\/uploads.dailydot.com\/2020\/10\/Experian-Fraud-Alert.png?fit=scale&amp;fm=png&amp;h=472&amp;ixlib=php-3.3.0&amp;w=1024&amp;wpsize=large\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-888567\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uploads.dailydot.com\/2020\/10\/Experian-Fraud-Alert.png?fit=scale&amp;fm=png&amp;h=44&amp;ixlib=php-3.3.0&amp;w=95&amp;wpsize=fp_100_44 100w, https:\/\/uploads.dailydot.com\/2020\/10\/Experian-Fraud-Alert.png?fit=scale&amp;fm=png&amp;h=167&amp;ixlib=php-3.3.0&amp;w=362&amp;wpsize=fp_380_167 380w, https:\/\/uploads.dailydot.com\/2020\/10\/Experian-Fraud-Alert.png?fit=scale&amp;fm=png&amp;h=354&amp;ixlib=php-3.3.0&amp;w=768&amp;wpsize=medium_large 768w, https:\/\/uploads.dailydot.com\/2020\/10\/Experian-Fraud-Alert.png?fit=scale&amp;fm=png&amp;h=350&amp;ixlib=php-3.3.0&amp;w=759&amp;wpsize=fp_800_350 800w, https:\/\/uploads.dailydot.com\/2020\/10\/Experian-Fraud-Alert.png?fit=scale&amp;fm=png&amp;h=472&amp;ixlib=php-3.3.0&amp;w=1024&amp;wpsize=large 1024w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"https:\/\/uploads.dailydot.com\/2020\/10\/Experian-Fraud-Alert.png?fit=scale&amp;fm=png&amp;h=472&amp;ixlib=php-3.3.0&amp;w=1024&amp;wpsize=large\" alt=\"\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-888567\"><figcaption class=\"dd-article-img-credit\"><span class=\"dd-article-leadart-image-credit\"><br \/>\n    <span class=\"dd-article-leadart-image-credit-segment\"><br \/>\n                    <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\">David Goldstein<\/a><br \/>\n                <\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Via DM, Goldstein said that three months prior, someone fraudulently used his SSN in an unsuccessful attempt to file for unemployment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI can\u2019t know for sure if either were successful because I\u2019ve never heard back,\u201d Goldstein said.<\/p>\n<p>Scores of others online have made similar assertions about their identities being stolen to apply for SBA assistance.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Yes but as in anything there is fraud. A person applied for $16K to SBA for a transportation business in my name from my identity theft. They never verified he\/she identity or verify the business. This is where the money is going  and not helping legit small businesses <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/6YCqdp1b9D\">https:\/\/t.co\/6YCqdp1b9D<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 AngelW (@RosieWa34696902) <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RosieWa34696902\/status\/1302613792010821632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 6, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/smallbusiness\/comments\/gcu0ow\/ppp_fraud\/\">A question<\/a> about PPP fraud on the smallbusiness subreddit generated hundreds of comments detailing different types, and how SBA\u2019s lack of oversight has facilitated it. Many noted that businesses will be left holding the bill, regardless of who\u2019s to blame.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve literally been working these applications for like a month now. Check the requirements for PPP loans on SBA.gov. 100% on the business owner regarding submitted documents related both to the initial applications and, later on, loan forgiveness,\u201d wrote one.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo way would banks participate in a lending campaign this massive without ensuring they won\u2019t be on the hook for any borrower misdeeds. The regular SBA process is 25-30 days and these are being pushed through in hours.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Because banks aren\u2019t on the hook for fraudulent loans, they arguably have less incentive to safeguard against it. This plus speed may have facilitated theft of astronomic proportions.<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/politics\/comments\/ikqawn\/congressional_investigation_finds_over_1_billion\/\">A post<\/a> on the politics subreddit linking to a story about coronavirus relief fraud inspired some to share their own experiences.<\/p>\n<p>One who said they work for a credit union wrote that a would-be thief used an elderly customer\u2019s account to deposit a $40,000 PPP loan. \u201cApparently we don\u2019t reconcile names on deposits and account names,\u201d they explained. Another said that someone tried to use both he and his spouse\u2019s identities to apply for PPP loans.<\/p>\n<p>Identity theft expert Carrie Kerskie expected the programs to be targeted. Kerskie, who hosts <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/carriekerskie.libsyn.com\/\">a podcast<\/a> about the issue, told the Daily Dot that criminals are always looking for new ways to make a buck.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs soon as I heard about the PPP programs rolling out, I knew what they were going to do,\u201d Kerskie said.<\/p>\n<p>Law-abiding citizens weren\u2019t the only ones who felt the economic pinch of the pandemic, she said. \u201c[Criminals] had to get creative just like any other business.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Like many, they turned to the internet. But while law-abiding citizens started selling facemasks on Etsy or launched an OnlyFans, criminals went after coronavirus stimulus.<\/p>\n<p>There they found an easy target.<\/p>\n<p>In July, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sba.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2020-07\/SBA_OIG_Report_20-16_508.1.pdf\">OIG wrote<\/a> that it\u2019d found \u201cseveral systemic deficiencies \u2026 [that] need to be addressed immediately to reduce fraud risk and prevent further losses.\u201d OIG also identified $250 million in loans and grants that may have gone to ineligible recipients.<\/p>\n<p>SBA reacted with a mixture of surprise and denial. SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza lauded the agency\u2019s commitment to mitigating fraud risk and said it used \u201csophisticated <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/technology\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"4\" title=\"Technology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">technology<\/a> to create a robust set of internal controls\u201d to protect against fraud. Carranza, a President Donald Trump appointee who took the helm at SBA last January, claimed these controls saved taxpayers billions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2026[T]he concerns raised by OIG in the Draft Management Alert were unexpected,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n<p>Carranza also claimed SBA couldn\u2019t address OIG\u2019s claims or describe what it was going to change to protect against fraud in the future because they weren\u2019t provided with summaries of the thousands of individual complaints.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRather,\u00a0 [\u2026] SBA will inform OIG about the robust internal controls already in place in the EIDL program and discuss enhancements in internal controls that SBA is making in response to the concerns reflected in the Draft Management Alert.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>OIG responded that it \u201chas been in daily contact\u201d with SBA \u201cabout specific instances of potential fraud.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>To its credit, SBA has made changes since OIG issued its dire warning, such as beginning to verify tax identification numbers and instructing processors on signs of potential fraud. \u201cThey have pivoted pretty quickly on implementing controls,\u201d Ware said.<\/p>\n<p>But many remain deeply concerned.<\/p>\n<p>At the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=jFVG3pgVv8I\">committee hearing<\/a>, Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) said she was \u201cshocked\u201d by reports of rampant fraud in coronavirus stimulus.<\/p>\n<p>Bill Shear, director of financial markets and community investment at the Government Accountability Office (GAO), said, \u201cWe continue to be concerned about the potential for fraud in the EIDL program and are currently conducting work on the program, including on internal controls and fraud risk management<strong>.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Goldstein, who also co-hosts <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pitchforkeconomics.com\/\">a podcast<\/a> about economics, told the Daily Dot that SBA is \u201cill-equipped\u201d to handle fraud complaints. \u201cAt the time I tried to report, all of their online and downloadable forms seemed aimed at reporting suspicious activity of SBA employees.\u201d He said that since then, the agency has updated its fraud complaint forms\u2014for lenders.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s nothing specifically for identity theft victims,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd of course, there was zero follow up from SBA.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Hey, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@SBA<\/a> <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SBAOIG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@SBAOIG<\/a>, how about a BIG RED BUTTON to a form where we can report identity theft in ODA applications? Somebody is trying to defraud you out of money and there&#8217;s no obvious place online to report this? <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/vuKzetsGq5\">https:\/\/t.co\/vuKzetsGq5<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Goldy \u2602\ufe0f (@GoldyHA) <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GoldyHA\/status\/1291076314573627393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 5, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Kerskie offered some advice for people whose identities have been stolen to apply for SBA loans. First, report it to SBA using contact information on their website (thieves are likely to start sending fake SBA demands in phishing schemes). Find out what SBA and the bank need to document the theft. File <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.identitytheft.gov\/\">a report<\/a> with <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ic3.gov\/default.aspx\">federal law enforcement<\/a> or the FTC (local agencies can\u2019t investigate federal crime, plus business identity theft isn\u2019t a crime in some states). You should also pull your business and\/or personal credit report(s). And make sure to get documentation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGet everything in writing,\u201d Kerskie said.<\/p>\n<h1 id=\"h-how-did-this-happen\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_did_this_happen\"><\/span>How did this happen?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<p>SBA\u2019s achievements are undeniable. All who spoke at the congressional hearing complimented the herculean accomplishment of approving 5.2 million PPP loans and 3.5 million EIDL applications in mere months.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt one point in the crisis it was reported that SBA performed 14 years\u2019 worth of lending in 14 days,\u201d IG Ware said.<\/p>\n<p>SBA\u2019s hasty actions undeniably saved millions of jobs and businesses.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMany businesses in my district needed the money right away to stay afloat,\u201d said Rep. Dwight Evans (D-Ind.) at the hearing.<\/p>\n<p>But the unprecedented lending spree also facilitated unprecedented theft, at least some of which was avoidable.<\/p>\n<p>The Daily Dot provided SBA with a detailed list of questions on Oct. 7. The following day, a spokesperson said they were working on obtaining answers. As of press time, the questions remain unanswered.<\/p>\n<p>One of the simplest, and most exploitable, vulnerabilities lay in the loan process itself. The <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sba.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2020-07\/PPP-Borrower-Application-Form-508.pdf\">four-page PPP loan application<\/a>, only two of which are fillable, requires information that can largely be obtained in a simple internet search. Photo identification wasn\u2019t required, and the information wasn\u2019t independently verified in the early months. Nor were applicants contacted to confirm the request.<\/p>\n<p>In the early days, borrowers were even able to alter the bank information after applying, allowing funds to be rerouted overseas, where it is much more difficult to trace or seize. This plus the expediency demanded by Congress\u2014the first cash infusion was to hit bank accounts in just three days\u2014which also decreed that applicants self-verify, made the stimulus an easy mark for criminals. They wasted no time feasting on the fatted calf.<\/p>\n<p>Identity theft expert Kerskie isn\u2019t surprised. \u201cThey were starting to get the money into the hands of businesses so fast, the checks and balances weren\u2019t there,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>In August, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/news.bloombergtax.com\/daily-tax-report\/phantom-companies-got-more-than-1-billion-in-coronavirus-aid\">Bloomberg Businessweek<\/a><em> <\/em>reported that among just the maximum $10,000 grants, up to $1.3 billion went to \u201cphantom businesses.\u201d Its researchers found that the number of businesses that received grants in some districts far exceeded the number that were eligible; in the Chicago area alone, where 19,000 were eligible, SBA approved 81,000 grants.<\/p>\n<p>On Sept. 10, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=7qmo2aLqpJE\">the Department of Justice (DOJ) said<\/a> that 57 had been indicted in dozens of cases for attempting to pilfer $175 million in PPP loans since May. DOJ has reportedly initiated hundreds of investigations, a fact made even more significant because, as Shear testified, it typically takes 12-18 months to begin investigating fraudulent loans. Ware said that it may take 7-10 years before the full extent of the damage is known.<\/p>\n<p>Although the sums are significant, the techniques alleged in most cases filed thus far are comparatively amateur\u2014officers say applicants lied about their eligibility and spent funds improperly on luxury cars, vacations, and other personal items.<\/p>\n<p>Kerskie believes that far more sophisticated financial crimes have also occurred. \u201cI would say this is modern-day organized crime \u2026 for this volume amount and this fast, this is organized crime.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>SBA made some changes in response to OIG\u2019s report, but regulators say it has continued to struggle to implement sufficient anti-fraud controls or to even communicate.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe cooperation has been poor\u2014and I don\u2019t like stating this, but we haven\u2019t had good cooperation in conducting this work,\u201d Shear told Congress.<\/p>\n<p>Last month, the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pogo.org\/investigation\/2020\/09\/a-disaster-small-business-administration-scrambling-to-stop-pandemic-loan-fraud\/\">Project On Government Oversight<\/a> (POGO) reported that within SBA the coronavirus stimulus programs are being called \u201ca disaster.\u201d An SBA insider told POGO that the agency could\u2019ve avoided much fraud by better training the subcontractors reviewing loan applications, verifying applicants\u2019 tax information, and requiring photo ID. Much of what POGO learned contradicted Carranza\u2019s response to OIG\u2019s July warning.<\/p>\n<p>For instance, Carranza claimed that tax ID numbers were being verified. Yet more than a week after she wrote that, an SBA manager informed loan processors that software had been updated to do so, POGO reports.<\/p>\n<p>POGO also obtained internal emails from August in which SBA offered loan processors basic fraud prevention advice, such as not to approve loans when it and\/or the bank account isn\u2019t in the applicants\u2019 name, giving \u201cDaenerys Targaryen\u201d and \u201cSansa Stark,\u201d characters from <em><a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/game\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"7\" title=\"Game\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Game<\/a> of Thrones<\/em>, as an example. An email also explained fraud alerts about masked IP addresses, devices previously associated with fraudulent activity, and the like. \u201cWe generally see higher fraud rates from international traffic,\u201d <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.documentcloud.org\/documents\/7048493-SBA-Aug-14-Email.html\">the email<\/a> noted.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dailydot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/SBA-August-14-email-100x36.png 100w, https:\/\/www.dailydot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/SBA-August-14-email-380x137.png 380w, https:\/\/www.dailydot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/SBA-August-14-email.png 684w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 684px) 100vw, 684px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dailydot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/SBA-August-14-email.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-887720\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dailydot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/SBA-August-14-email-100x36.png 100w, https:\/\/www.dailydot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/SBA-August-14-email-380x137.png 380w, https:\/\/www.dailydot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/SBA-August-14-email.png 684w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 684px) 100vw, 684px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dailydot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/SBA-August-14-email.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-887720\"><figcaption><span class=\"dd-image-caption\">An SBA internal email from August explained basic fraud prevention techniques to loan processors.<\/span><span class=\"dd-article-leadart-image-credit\"><br \/>\n    <span class=\"dd-article-leadart-image-credit-segment\"><br \/>\n                    <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.documentcloud.org\/documents\/7048498-Aug-14-widespread-prevalence-of-fraud-email.html\">Project on Government Oversight<\/a><br \/>\n                <\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>An inside source told POGO that loan staff routinely overrode fraud alerts due to \u201cpoor training and inadequate guidance.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDue to the widespread presence of fraudulent applications, effective immediately, all COVID-19 applications\u201d that don\u2019t result in any loss to the business were also to be denied, an SBA supervisor <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.documentcloud.org\/documents\/7048498-Aug-14-widespread-prevalence-of-fraud-email.html\">wrote on Aug. 14<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>It will be years before the extent of the losses is known. Some estimate that as much as 10%, or more of the half-trillion dollars of PPP loans, were fraudulent.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/PPP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#PPP<\/a> fraud could reach as high as 12%, (according to the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TheJusticeDept?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@TheJusticeDept<\/a>), &amp; could increase through <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/identitytheft?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#identitytheft<\/a> &amp; weak <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/riskmanagement?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#riskmanagement<\/a> frameworks. <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/0mN3qwd02c\">https:\/\/t.co\/0mN3qwd02c<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 DataVisor (@DataVisor) <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DataVisor\/status\/1306642584396337155?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>If so, that would put coronavirus stimulus fraud in the same category as the $78 billion Enron scandal and Bernie Madoff\u2019s $65 billion Ponzi scheme. In short, it may be the all-time largest theft of government assets.  <\/p>\n<p>Government programs are perhaps inevitably targeted for fraud. The largest government stimulus in history was always going to be irresistible to criminals. This is not shocking. What\u2019s shocking perhaps is the scope of the fraud and how little was done to prevent it.<\/p>\n<p>As Ware said: \u201cFraudsters are going to do what fraudsters are going to do.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"This_weeks_top_technology_stories\"><\/span>This week\u2019s top technology stories<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\">\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>In the 2020 election, killing Section 230 is the only bipartisan issue <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Trump blasted TikTok for collecting \u2018vast swaths\u2019 of data\u2014his 2020 app does the same thing <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Will a Biden-Harris administration break up big tech?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Right-wing militias have adopted QAnon with frightening ease <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>6 signs it\u2019s time to get a new phone (Sponsored)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/dailydot.us18.list-manage.com\/subscribe\/post?u=557794e049a42cb8dcdf4eacc&amp;id=14207741b3\"><em>Sign up<\/em><\/a><em>\u00a0to receive the best of the internet straight to your inbox.<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<div class=\"dd-article-leadart-image-credit\">\n<p>                                                                                                <span class=\"dd-article-leadart-image-credit-segment\"><br \/>\n                                        <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/hundred-dollar-bills-close-118071292\">vadimmmus\/Shutterstock<\/a><br \/>\n                                    <\/span><\/p>\n<p>                                                            <span class=\"dd-article-leadart-image-credit-segment\">(Licensed)<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dd-article-leadart-image-credit\"><br \/>\n    <span class=\"dd-article-leadart-image-credit-segment\"><br \/>\n                    <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\">David Goldstein<\/a><br \/>\n                <\/span><\/span><span class=\"dd-article-leadart-image-credit\"><br \/>\n    <span class=\"dd-article-leadart-image-credit-segment\"><br \/>\n                    <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.documentcloud.org\/documents\/7048498-Aug-14-widespread-prevalence-of-fraud-email.html\">Project on Government Oversight<\/a><br \/>\n                <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-stamp\">\n<p class=\"date-stamp inline-flex\">\n                            Oct 16, 2020, 8:53 am*                      <\/p>\n<pre><code>                        &lt;p class=\"author-name inline-flex\"&gt;Tech&lt;\/p&gt;\n<\/code><\/pre>\n<p><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Claire Goforth\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dailydot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Claire-Goforth_avatar_1547172335-50x50.png\" class=\"avatar avatar-50 photo\" height=\"50\" width=\"50\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Claire Goforth\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dailydot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Claire-Goforth_avatar_1547172335-50x50.png\" class=\"lazyload avatar avatar-50 photo\" height=\"50\" width=\"50\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"author-name inline-flex\">Claire Goforth<\/p>\n<pre><code>                &lt;\/div&gt;\n<\/code><\/pre>\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 noreferrer\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more Like this articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/social-media\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Social Media category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailydot.com\/debug\/coronavirus-relief-government-theft-ppp-loans-fraud\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;#The dark side of the PPP loan program &#8221; Lack of oversight in coronavirus spending facilitated historic fraud. This spring, the coronavirus pandemic quarantined millions of Americans inside their homes for months. In a desperate attempt to save an economy that went into freefall practically overnight, the government went on the largest, fastest spending spree&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":90798,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.dailydot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/government-fraud-and-waste.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-90797","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-social-mediaa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90797","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=90797"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90797\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/90798"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=90797"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=90797"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=90797"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}