Fraud Investigator

State of Maine; Maine; On-site; USD 48,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

13 paid holidays

3+ weeks vacation leave

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Gym membership reimbursement

Job summary

The State of Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) seeks a Fraud Investigator in Portland to investigate public assistance fraud, review complaints, interview witnesses, gather evidence, and prepare cases for prosecution.

Qualifications include a Baccalaureate Degree in Criminal Justice or related field and at least one year of investigative experience; CJIS clearance and fingerprint checks are required. Salary ranges from $22.91 to $31.97 per hour, with a 1% recruitment stipend.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field required.
• Minimum 1 year of experience in criminal investigation or related area.
• CJIS clearance and fingerprint background checks required.

Responsibilities

• Investigate and prepare cases of alleged public assistance fraud for prosecution.
• Review complaints and interview witnesses and others with knowledge of facts.
• Conduct fraud investigations, gather evidence and write investigation reports.
• Refer cases for prosecution and investigate for administrative hearings and sanctions.
• Testify as a state witness; extensive statewide travel is required.

Skills

Criminal investigation

Interviewing

Evidence gathering

Report writing

Testifying

Education

Baccalaureate Degree in Criminal Justice, Law, Business or Public Administration, or related field

Job description

If you are a current State of Maine employee, please submit your application through the internal application process using the Find Jobs report in PRISM. Seasonal employees who do not have PRISM access should apply through the State's career page and indicate on the application that they have previously worked for the State.

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Date: August 28, 2026

Closing Date: September 11, 2026

Job Class Code: 5040

Grade: 22 (Professional & Technical)

Salary: $22.91 - $31.97 per hour*

*This is inclusive of a 1.00% recruitment and retention stipend

Position Number: 02000-1628

Location: Portland

Currently, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions.

As a Fraud Investigator you will:

• Investigate and prepare cases of alleged public assistance fraud and/or related crimes for prosecution and recovery of overpayments.
• Review of complaints of alleged public assistance fraud.
• Interview witnesses, complainants, and others with knowledge of the facts.
• Conduct fraud investigations.
• Gather evidence.
• Write investigation reports.
• Refer cases for prosecution.
• Investigate violations for administrative hearings and sanctions.
• Testify as a State witness to facts developed during the conduct of an investigation.
• This work requires extensive personal contact and the use of other appropriate investigative and collection techniques. State-wide travel is required.

Minimum Qualifications:

To qualify, your background must include:

• a Baccalaureate Degree in Criminal Justice, Law, Business or Public Administration, or related field -AND-
• one year experience in criminal investigation, law enforcement, forensic accounting, auditing, or related field. Directly related work experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.

The successful candidate must pass Criminal Justice Information Services ("CJIS") clearance, as well as a fingerprint background check.

• To properly evaluate your experience, please respond to the following performance areas on a separate document and include with your cover letter:
• Knowledge of investigative procedures, methods, techniques and use of associated equipment.
• Experience in criminal investigations

Thinking about applying?

Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you're currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your experience and passion set you apart.

Agency information:

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is dedicated to promoting health, safety, resilience, and opportunity for Maine people. The Department provides health and social services to approximately a third of the State's population, including children, families, older Mainers, and individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders. The Department also promotes public health, operates two state psychiatric hospitals, and provides oversight to health care providers.

The Office for Family Independence (OFI) is responsible for administration of eligibility determination for several programs, including MaineCare, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Food Supplement and Child Support. The Fraud Unit is tasked with identifying, investigating and presenting for prosecution or administrative hearing, all allegations of public benefits fraud in the State.

Application Information:

For additional information about this position please contact Tom Roth, Director of Fraud Operations at [emailprotected]

Benefits of working for the State of Maine:

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto-"Dirigo" or "I lead"-as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• Work-Life Fit - Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave. When you or immediate members of your family are ill, utilize 12 days of sick leave per year.
• Health Insurance Coverage - The State of Maine pays 85%-95% of employee-only premiums ($12,213.60 - $13,650.48 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
• Health Insurance Premium Credit - Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements.
• Dental Insurance - The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($365.28 annual value).
• Retirement Plan - The State contributes the equivalent of 14.06% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.
• Gym Membership Reimbursement - Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts - Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.
• Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness - The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office.
• Living Resources Program - Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.
• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child-including non-birthing and adoptive parents-receive six weeks of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
• Voluntary Deferred Compensation - Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.

State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package, covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.

Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics.

If you're looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we'd love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.