Michigan Man Attempts Fraud Using John Krasinski’s Face
This, perhaps, wasn't the most well thought out plan.
A man in Michigan attempted to collect unemployment benefits using an I.D. which, clearly, had been photoshopped. In place of a real picture, an image of actor John Krasinski was in its place. The license was posted on Twitter by Jonathan Oosting, a Michigan politics reporter for Bridge Michigan.
Now, if this man had chosen a lesser known actor this might have worked. But, John Krasinski? For those who don't know, Krasinski is one of the main stars of the incredibly popular show, The Office. The show, which aired from 2005 to 2013, was popular when it was on air but quickly became the most streamed show in 2020 with a whopping 57.1 billion minutes streamed. So...yeah...people might be suspicious if he suddenly showed up on a drivers license in Michigan.
According to Detroit Metro Times, this I.D. was actually submitted to Michigan's unemployment office which was also confirmed by the Unemployment Insurance Agency. Obviously, benefits were denied. There's no word on whether or not the person, last name Husayn, will be facing any punishment for the attempted fraud.
No, this was not a good idea. However, I can't help but wonder about the motivation. Acquiring unemployment benefits has been a nightmare for a majority of Americans throughout this pandemic. Was this an attempt to try to gain more money to survive? Were they trying to take advantage of the system? OR were they motivated by John Krasinski's character on The Office? After all, Jim Halpert also attempted identity fraud once...
All jokes aside, I understand the frustration surrounding unemployment and trying to get just a little help. Thankfully, benefits have been extended through September and the Michigan Unemployment Department seem to be catching up. So, hang in there. And whatever you do, don't try to pass off a very famous face as your own.