The Office of State Inspector General filed public assistance fraud charges against 52 individuals throughout January, racking up restitution totaling nearly $350,000.

During January, the office filed felony charges of fraudulently receiving public assistance against a total of 49 individuals and misdemeanor charges against three separate individuals. It is alleged that these individuals misrepresented themselves and fraudulently received taxpayer-funded public benefits to which they were not entitled, according the inspector general’s office.

The inspector general investigates and prosecutes public assistance fraud and conducts collection activities for the public benefits programs administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, the news release said.

Additional cost savings will be realized as the defendants will be temporarily disqualified from receiving public benefits in the programs they allegedly defrauded, the news release said.