HAMLET, N.C. — A Hamlet woman, Tara Cordell, 37, has been arrested in connection with a $23,000 unemployment fraud scheme, Aberdeen Police announced.
The investigation began on Sept. 20, 2024, after authorities received a report of a fraudulent unemployment claim. The victim, an Aberdeen resident, was notified by the North Carolina Division of Employment Security that she owed $23,009.20.
Police served a search warrant on July 1 to the Division of Employment Security, which led investigators to addresses linked to Cordell and a Bank of America debit card associated with the fraudulent claim.
On July 23, further inquiries at Bank of America allowed investigators to positively identify Cordell as the suspect. Warrants were issued that day for multiple felony counts, including identity theft, obtaining property by false pretenses, forgery, computer access violations, and financial card fraud.
Cordell was arrested on Aug. 5 by the Anson County Sheriff’s Office and is currently held on a $15,000 secured bond. She is scheduled to appear in Moore County District Court on Aug. 21.
As with all criminal cases, Cordell is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
