近日，美國密歇根州的萊德收到失業保險機構寄來的信件，告知他可獲得州政府每周360美元（約合人民幣2300元）的失業救濟金。

這封信上的信息顯示，萊德之前在一家連鎖餐廳工作，最近被炒了魷魚，所以才申請了失業救濟金。

問題是，萊德是一條狗，他怎么會申請失業救濟金呢？這背后又反映了什么社會問題呢？

來看看美國媒體的報道吧。

“So my dog Ryder gets approved for unemployment benefits of 360 per week,” Ryder’s owner, Michael Haddock, wrote on Facebook, according to ABC affiliate WZZM.
據美國廣播公司WZZM電臺報道，米迦勒?哈多克在臉書網上寫道：“我的狗萊德得到了每周360美元的失業救濟金。”

He added: “Not sure what he is going to do with the money but should be interesting. I knew he was clever but he surprised me on this one.”
哈多克還說：“不知道萊德打算如何花這筆錢，但這應該很有趣。我知道他很聰明，但這件事還是讓我大吃一驚。”

Haddock, an attorney in Saugatuck, Mich., told WZZM that he received a letter last weekend from the State of Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency addressed to his dog — sort of.
哈多克是密歇根州索格塔克市的一名律師，他告訴WZZM，上周末他收到了一封密歇根州失業保險機構寄來的信件，“收件人”應該是他的狗。

It was sent to “Michael Ryder.”
這封信是寄給“米迦勒?萊德”的。

Haddock?said the employer listed on the letter was a restaurant chain in Metro Detroit.
哈多克稱，信件中提到的雇主是大底特律都會區的一家連鎖餐廳。

“My name is Michael; my dog is Ryder,” Haddock told the station. “I was surprised to see it, but I had a good laugh, actually.”
哈多克該訴WZZM：“我的名字是米迦勒，我的狗叫萊德，這個‘收件人’讓我很意外，實話說，我覺得很好笑。”

But it was no laughing matter to Talent Investment Agency spokesman Chris DeWitt. Talent Investment Agency is a part of Unemployment Insurance Agency, which is cracking down on false claims that come from a criminal element.
但對于密歇根人才投資機構的克里斯?德威特來說，這件事非同小可。人才投資機構是失業保險機構的一個分支機構，后者嚴厲打擊犯罪分子的騙保行為。

The UIA announced it's creating a special investigative unit to handle the recent increase in false claims, according to WZZM.
據WZZM電臺報道，失業保險機構宣布，他們已經成立了一支專項調查小組來處理近來日益增多的騙保行為。

The UIA said its computer system did send out the initial letter to Haddock's address, according to WZZM. However, it was flagged as suspicious during the next step in the unemployment process. The agency has since sent another letter to Haddock's address denying the claim.
WZZM稱，失業保險機構表示，其電腦系統的確曾向哈多克的地址發送過第一封信件。不過，他們在處理流程的下一步發現該失業索賠有疑點。此后該機構已經向哈多克的地址發送了另一封信件拒絕索賠。

"It's important to note that no money was paid out,'' DeWitt said. "Criminals get a hold of people's personal information like name, address and Social Security numbers and file a false claim. This is a crime. I saw the story and it was a case of incorrect information being sent to the UIA for a false claim. There have been data breaches that have happened over the last few years that has been obtained by criminals. Those criminals are using that information to file claims."
德威特表示：“重要的是，這個錢并沒有付出去。犯罪分子掌握了人們的個人信息，比如姓名、住址和社保號碼，并提交虛假的索賠申請。這是犯罪行為。我看到這則報道了。這是一個向失業保險機構提供錯誤信息來騙取保險的案例。在過去幾年間發生過數據泄露事件，犯罪分子掌握了這些數據。他們正在利用這些信息騙保。”

In 2014, 17.6 million U.S. residents older than 16 had their identities stolen, according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics.
據司法統計局最新數據顯示，2014年有1760萬年齡在16歲以上的美國居民身份被盜用。

On Tuesday, TIA Director Wanda M. Stokes announced in a press release that the agency had put out a tip sheet on preventing identity theft.
1月30日，人才投資機構主管旺達?M?斯托克斯在新聞發布會上宣布，該機構已經發布了一份防止身份盜用的提示單。

"ID theft is a growing crime in all sectors, including unemployment fraud,'' Stokes said. "By taking a few simple steps individuals and businesses can prevent, or at least limit the damage, if there is an ID theft attempted.
斯托克斯稱：“各個領域的身份盜竊犯罪都在日益增加，其中包括失業詐騙。如果有人試圖盜用他人身份，個人或企業只要采取幾個簡單的步驟就可以阻止此類事件發生，或者至少將損失降到最低。”

英文來源：華盛頓郵報，freep.com
編譯：董靜
審校：yaning