Mar 21, 2026
A former employee of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs is facing felony charges in what prosecutors say was a $230,000 COVID-19 rental assistance scam operation.
Prosecutors allege that while working for the agency between 2021 and 2022, Porsha Robinson submitted and approved nine fraudulent applications for rental assistance. The federally funded program was created to help tenants who struggled to pay rent during the widespread shutdowns and unemployment of the pandemic period.
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Instead, investigators claim Robinson diverted program funds into bank accounts she owned or controlled. Five additional people are facing charges for allegedly making fraudulent applications to Robinson and paying her kickbacks. The other four applications were filed using the names of other individuals, likely without their knowledge.
“The Emergency Rental Assistance Program was meant to provide critical relief to Georgia families who needed it most,” Carr said in a statement. “For anyone to take advantage of the system for their own personal gain is unethical and blatantly illegal.” The case remains pending.
This is the latest in a long line of pandemic relief fraud cases that officials continue to pursue (1).
The continuing pandemic relief fraud problem
Nearly six years after Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide emergency stimulus and assistance during the pandemic, federal investigators are still working to uncover fraud tied to pandemic aid programs.
According to the Internal Revenue Service, as of 2025, agents have launched 2,039 tax fraud and money-laundering cases related to COVID-19, involving an estimated $10 billion in attempted fraud. The agency claims a 97.4% conviction rate in prosecuted COVID fraud cases, with many investigations still ongoing (2).
The scale may have been even larger. A 2023 Associated Press analysis found that fraudsters may have stolen more than $280 billion in COVID-19 relief funds, with another $123 billion being wasted or misspent. Combined, that represents roughly 10% of the $4.2 trillion distributed in pandemic aid (3).
So how does pandemic relief fraud typically work?
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According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, in many cases, individuals or business owners submitted false information to qualify for loans, unemployment benefits, or rental assistance. Some companies inflated payroll numbers to get larger Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. Others used stolen identities to file fake unemployment claims (4). In situations like the Georgia case, someone with inside access allegedly approved fraudulent applications and directed the money into personal accounts.
In the rush to quickly distribute billions of dollars in relief funds, limited oversight created opportunities for abuse by both individuals and larger, more organized groups.
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Protect yourself and your community
The impact of pandemic relief fraud is far-reaching. Those funds come from taxpayers.
When someone steals relief dollars, it means fewer resources went to families who were facing eviction, job loss, or unpaid utility bills.
Every fraudulent application erodes trust and creates more scrutiny and red tape. That can slow down approvals for legitimate applicants who actually need help.
Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself and your community.
- Stay informed: Pay attention to local news coverage and public updates about relief programs in your state or county. Contact local officials or politicians if you have information.
- Protect your personal information: Many fraud schemes rely on stolen identities. Be cautious about sharing your Social Security number and banking details. Make sure your passwords are secure and change them frequently. Practice good
- Report suspected fraud: Most state agencies and federal programs have hotlines or online portals where residents can report abuse anonymously.
Pandemic relief programs were created to help people survive a crisis. Cases like this one in Georgia are a reminder that fraud not only breaks the law; it also takes support away from those who need it most.
Article Sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
CBS (1); Internal Revenue Service (2); The Associated Press (3); U.S. Government Accountability Office (4)
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Danielle is a personal finance writer whose work has appeared in publications including Motley Fool and Business Insider. She believes financial literacy key to helping people build a life they love. She’s especially passionate about helping families and kids learn smart money habits early.
