The First Rule of Defrauding Social Security

It's not that hard - if you're going to fake a psychological condition in order to get Social Security benefits, try to avoid posting pictures and videos of yourself that prove you're a normal functioning adult.  And also: don't talk about defrauding social security.

Pictured to the right is Richard Cosentino, formally of the New York City Police Department.  He and more than 100 other people have been charged with defrauding social security as part of a scheme going back to 1988.

"The plot . . . involved four facilitators who helped coach hundreds of applicants on how to convince the Social Security Administration that they were entitled to monthly disability payments because they were unable to work at any job due to psychiatric conditions."  Half of the applicants were claiming injury as a result of 9/11.  

The 4 "facilitators" coached the alleged defrauders on how to act and dress depressed as well as intentionally fail memory tests.  The applicants claimed "that they were unable to perform basic life skills like cooking for themselves, grooming themselves paying bills and socializing."  

Unfortunately, it appears the coaching did not include helpful hints like:

• Don't post pictures of yourself riding motorcycles and jet skis
• Don't open and advertise a martial arts school and then post videos on YouTube with your awesome moves set to music
• Don't go on deep sea fishing trips and then post the pictures if you claim you cant leave this house (Richard Cosentino could have really used this tip).

Exit question: does social media cause people to lose common sense? Or does it simply highlight the people who already have no common sense to begin with?