(RALEIGH) -- Speaker of the North Carolina House Thom Tillis has announced he will form a task force to look into how the state's Division of Employment Security detects and prevents unemployment benefits fraud.  Tillis said he and other state lawmakers have heard of abuses in the system.

"Over the past few months we've identified a number of things that we think are classic examples of the sorts of things that we have to avoid to reduce fraud and abuse and to take precious resources away from the people who need it the most," said Tillis.

The House task force will be co-chaired by Rep. Marilyn Avila of Wake County and Rep. G.L. Pridgen who represents Hoke, Scotland and Robeson counties.

Avila said what is happening is costing the state lots of money. "Last year North Carolina lost over $160 million to improper over payment of unemployment checks.  The department that handles unemployment payments has an inadequate system in place to detect, correct or punish this abuse," said Avila.

The task forces is expected to have recommendations ready by a short session of the General Assembly in May.