Investigators in the state auditor’s office looked into 1,135 cases of suspected public benefits fraud over the last three months of 2022 and identified fraud in 255 cases totaling $2.7 million, according to Auditor Diana DiZoglio.

The auditor last month filed a report with the Legislature outlining the recent work of the Bureau of Special Investigations, which occurred while Suzanne Bump, DiZoglio’s predecessor, was finishing out her term.

During the last quarter of 2022, investigators found $1.6 million in Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children program (TAFDC) fraud, $771,000 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) fraud, $283,000 in Medicaid fraud, and $7,300 in Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC) fraud.

The bureau detected $13.5 million in fraud in fiscal 2022, and $6 million in fiscal 2021.

The average gas price is up 2 cents in Massachusetts, averaging $3.29 on pressures from the coming switch to summer gas blends.

The Bay State average is 18 cents below the national average, which was 3.47, according to the latest index from AAA.

“Less expensive oil and fewer people fueling usually combine to lower pump prices,” said Mary Maguire, AAA Northeast Vice President of Public and Government Affairs. “However, there is some upward pricing pressure at the moment due to the switch to summer blend gasoline, which may add about five to ten cents per gallon. But if demand and oil costs remain low, this recent price bounce may fade.”

The price at the pump in Massachusetts is 9 cents lower than a month ago and $1.06 lower than a year ago.