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OFF BEAT: Who needs a fraud investigator when you've got Facebook?

Posted On: Aug. 20, 2013 12:00 AM CST

The apparently irresistible urge to share personal information on Facebook has once again gotten a worker into trouble.

Michael Mallory was injured while working in Ohio and started collecting workers compensation benefits, according to the Ohio Workers Compensation Bureau's special investigations department.

He moved to Arizona, where he took a construction job but illegally continued to collect Ohio workers compensation benefits, according to the bureau.

That might have been the end of it, but apparently Mr. Mallory decided to let people know what he was up to.

Based on a tip, investigators found photos on Mr. Mallory's Facebook page of him wearing rappelling gear and doing rappelling work while on the job.

The construction company with whom he was employed also confirmed Mr. Mallory worked there.

Recently, in the Franklin County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas in Columbus, Ohio, Mr. Mallory pleaded guilty to workers compensation fraud and was ordered to pay the bureau $7,600 in restitution and investigative costs. He paid $6,000 at sentencing, and was given a six-month suspended jail sentence provided the balance is paid by Oct. 13, according to the bureau.

This all goes to show that a free Facebook account can turn out to be pretty expensive.