POLICE OFFICERS CAN PREVENT SUSPECTED WELFARE FRAUD BY COORDINATING THEIR EFFORTS WITH THOSE OF THE LOCAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND WITH LOCAL OR STATE WELFARE INVESTIGATIONS. ALL LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, HOWEVER, MUST HAVE UNIQUE SKILLS, AUTHORITY, AND OPPORTUNITY TO MINIMIZE WELFARE FRAUD. WHETHER OR NOT A SPECIAL WELFARE FRAUD UNIT IS ORGANIZED, POLICE OFFICERS SHOULD KNOW THE INDICATORS OF WELFARE FRAUD AND HAVE A SPECIFIED REPORTING AVENUE IN THEIR JURISDICTION. WELFARE FRAUD CRIMES INCLUDE RECEIVING WELFARE CHECKS UNDER MULTIPLE FICTITIOUS NAMES FOR NONEXISTENT CHILDREN, POSSESSION OF WELFARE DOCUMENTS ADDRESSED TO DIFFERENT RESIDENCES, POSSESSION OF ALTERED BIRTH CERTIFICATES, AND SIMULTANEOUS POSSESSION OF WELFARE DOCUMENTS AND PAYCHECK STUBS. SUCCESSFUL CASES AGAINST WELFARE FRAUD CONSPIRACY GROUPS REQUIRE PARTICIPATION, SUCH AS OBTAINING AND SERVING SEARCH WARRANTS. RECENT CASES ARE CITED TO SHOW POLICE FRAUD PREVENTION WORK. FOOTNOTES AND PHOTOGRAPHS COMPLETE THE TEXT. (RFC)