Fraud Investigator - Wage - Multiple Vacancies

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.

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Department of Labor - Bureau of Unemployment Compensation

Job Class Code: 5040
Grade: 22/Professional/Technical

Salary: $22.91-$31.97/Hourly (includes a 1% stipend)
Location: Statewide - Augusta, Bangor, Portland, Lewiston, Presque Isle

Opening Date: May 12, 2026

Closing Date:  May 27, 2026

This position will become hybrid, with at least 1 day per week in office, after successful completion of training.

Join Our Team as a Wage Fraud Investigator!

Are you a detail‑oriented professional with an excellent eye for uncovering falsification? Can you make a decision — and defend it with confidence? The Maine Department of Labor’s Bureau of Unemployment Compensation is seeking three Wage Fraud Investigators to join our team.

This position plays a critical role in protecting Maine’s Unemployment Trust Fund by investigating potential benefit overpayments. Overpayments may occur accidentally through misunderstanding or error, or intentionally through misrepresentation or false statements made while filing for benefits. As a Wage Fraud Investigator, you will review these situations, determine the cause and severity of the overpayment, and ensure appropriate action is taken. You may also review and validate identity documents submitted to the Bureau to determine whether a claim is legitimate or the result of identity theft.

Incumbents in this position are also required to know and understand the entire Unemployment Claims process, including Claims Entry and Eligibility Adjudications.

Primary responsibilities include:  

• Review unemployment claims and employer‑provided wage audits to determine whether an overpayment exists and whether it was intentional or due to misunderstanding.

• Write clear, accurate unemployment eligibility determinations based on investigative findings.

• Participate in appeal hearings to justify and support your decisions.

• Conduct identity validation through documents uploaded to the ReEmployME system and through in‑person review.

• Travel statewide on an infrequent basis as needed.

Skills or knowledge required:

Ability to analyze complex or incomplete information and make a well‑reasoned, defensible decision based on available evidence.

• In‑depth interviewing techniques

• Clear and concise report writing

• Strong oral and written presentation of evidence and facts

• Strong attention to detail, accuracy, and professional judgment

• Ability to communicate findings clearly and confidently in both written and verbal formats

Minimum qualifications:

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.

Preference will be given to those applicants:

The ideal candidate would have experience in unemployment claims, unemployment adjudication, or investigations. Experience with decision making is preferred.

Contact information:

Questions about this position should be directed to Paul Jerome at Paul.L.Jerome@maine.gov.

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, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.

• Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-95% of employee-only premiums ($11,196.96 - $12,514.32 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. 

• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($387.92 annual value). 

• Retirement Plan – The State contributes the equivalent of 13.29% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS) for MSEA, or 18.09% for Confidential employees. 

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.

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 lived experience and passion set you apart.

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If you are unable to complete the online application, please contact the Human Resources representative listed on the job opening you are interested in applying for. They will work with you for an alternative method of submitting.