A former inspector general testified before Congress about the growing threat of identity theft being used to commit benefits fraud, warning that criminals can purchase stolen personal information at extremely low prices.

According to the testimony, stolen identities are being sold for prices comparable to fast-food meals, making them easily accessible to fraudsters. The official explained that criminals are then using artificial intelligence tools to file fake benefit claims using these stolen identities.

The testimony highlighted concerns about the scale of fraudulent benefit claims, with the former inspector general indicating that these schemes are contributing to billions of dollars in losses to government benefit programs.

The hearing comes as federal agencies continue to grapple with fraud prevention in various assistance programs. The use of AI technology by criminals represents an evolving challenge for investigators and program administrators working to detect and prevent fraudulent claims.

The testimony underscores ongoing concerns about cybersecurity and identity protection as digital tools become increasingly sophisticated and accessible to bad actors seeking to exploit government systems.