Will they never learn. It really is amazing how some will never learn until it is too late. How is it these individuals think they can get away with this? When these individuals are caught it is almost always jail time and BCD. Is it worth their career.

Some recent cases ... Courtesy of S&S
Recent convictions of airmen in South Korea on housing allowance fraud charges:

Sentenced March 8: Master Sgt. Paul Richardson, 607th Combat Communications Squadron, Camp Humphreys. Convicted of stealing $33,000 in housing allowances. Sentenced to reduction to the military’s lowest pay grade, E-1, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, 18 months in prison and a bad-conduct discharge.

Sentenced April 10: Staff Sgt. Lanny Marsh, 51st Munitions Squadron. Convicted of stealing $13,500 in housing allowances. Sentenced to reduction to E-1, one year in prison and a bad-conduct discharge.

Sentenced April 18: Senior Airman Jason R. Edwards, 607th Combat Communications Squadron, Osan Air Base. Convicted of stealing $16,000 in housing allowances. Sentenced to reduction to E-1, 10 months in prison and a bad-conduct discharge.

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Chill

It's all about money. I'm sure people have gotten away with it for years.

People think they can get away with it but....

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CH-47 SI

They must find it difficult...

Those who have taken authority as the truth, rather than truth as the authority. --Gerald Massey

I'm sure many people do get away with it.

But like most cases of deceit, something like this doesn't occur in a vacuum where only one person knows about it and that one person has ultimate control of the situation.

A Korean landlord and/or realtor has to be a part of this, in many cases a spouse knows, other family members know, the guy at the bar to whom you bragged about getting over on the gov't knows...

I am not so sure it is propagated from within Korea. I believe someone is giving advice on how to get over on the system. Some people are listening to this advice and destroying their careers. There is a list of zip codes for the high risk areas. Once the individual provides the zip code they are placed on the high risk list. If a family member does not have utilities registered in the area this elevates the individual higher on the list. A check with DMV has been made for change of address as most states require. If the individual receives treatment at a MTF (Military Treatment Facility) the visit is recorded in CHCS (Composite Health Care Sys) db. If they use TriCare benefits the visit is still recorded. What is the first question any health care center ask? Any insurance? If you do not have insurance what are the chances of being seen? Investigating agencies have access to all of these systems. I would estimate maybe as few as 1% may operate under the radar. The question is, is it worth the risk? With the electron flow it is very likely these individuals will get caught.

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Chill

No, thievery has little to do with the country you are in, or your rank.

Some criminals are smart in some ways, but ignorant or unaware of the methods that can be utilized to undo their schemes.

It does have to do with intelligence, as someone really knowledgeable about
the systems that watch our every electronic transactions, including the ability to record even the keystrokes on our computers, should know they might have a better chance of walking into a small town bank and robbing it!

Hiker explained some of the methods used to catch the cheaters, and maybe if that was general knowledge, there would be less folks tempted.

hello all,

in regards to bah fraud, i want to get your opinions on my particular situation.

for my first assignment, i'll be going to korea this spring. it is NCS, but since my wife is a korean national, she wants to go with me.

would it be considered fraud, if we keep our residence in san francisco and collect bah there, while my wife is living in korea with me? we own the home in san fran and we plan on not renting it out.

i don't see why it would be bah abuse b/c my tour is ncs and the army would have to pay bah if my wife stayed in san fran.

if you think it's abuse, then what do you think about the maximum time my wife can visit me in korea without committing fraud.

thank you!

h. west

Welcome "Humphrey"! Hopefully one of our fine members will quote you the reg. Can we assume you fall under Army regs?
Opinions, well, as you know, everyone has one!

Humphrey:

One of the facts I learned early on when it comes to the government regulations and those that interpet them is to find the regulation they are quoting from and then ask the question(s).

In your case you may not be eligible to draw BAH at the SF rate:

This is from the JTR; http://dodtravelregs.hqda.pentagon.m....htm?view=main

It is in Chpt 10 Part E
4. Dependents may visit the member at the PDS outside CONUS without changes to allowances. However, when the visit exceeds 90 days, it is no longer a visit but is permanent residence. The with-dependent allowance is changed to be based on the location of the PDS and FSH, if being paid, stops. If dependents subsequently depart the area of the PDS after with dependent allowances are changed and FSH stopped, the with-dependents allowance and FSH previously authorized are reinstated as of the departure date.

I cannot over empahsis the caveat I prefaced with. I am in no way an expert in this field. I only know how to look up information.

I would not take the risk if you are not eligible.

Good luck.

HTH

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Chill

This is in accordance with the JFTR, so it's the same regardless of which service you're in.

There are numerous cases of people doing exactly what you've described - and they're doing time in Ft. Leavenworth. They pop up in the Stars & Stripes every now and then. In fact, even if you're family is in the States, but you claim they are in a different State-side location - you still get busted for fraud.

This is VERY serious business ~ and one the military investigates closely.

just bring your wife to Korea and they will give her housing for Korea. I brought my wife here and before I got approved to live off base she was given OHA which was about $1000 plus utilities. I got approved to live off base but I don't think our OHA changed much. It doesn't really matter since you don't get to pocket OHA, but I think you can pocket the utilities money you don't use.