Preventing Unemployment Fraud is Up to All of Us Show
CTDOL Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo PROTECT YOURSELF FROM IDENTITY THEFT & FRAUDCriminals have sophisticated ways to steal your information—by text, using social media, through email, and by breaching retail and commercial systems that have personal identifiers like your birth date, Social Security Number, and other details. Many people don’t realize they are a victim of ID theft until they start getting the bills; in some cases, that notification may be from the Connecticut Department of Labor in the form of a monetary determination letter or a 1099 tax form. Did you receive a 1099 form or monetary determination letter? Submit the CTDOL ID Theft Report Form immediately. When criminals file for unemployment benefits using a stolen identity, it can take time to unravel what happened. Many identity theft protection programs only flag issues for their customers if the issue is related to credit and banking. An individual who has an identity protection service will not be notified if their identity is used to claim unemployment benefits because this system is separate from the banking system. Here’s what we know and some tips to help if it happens to you. How did they get my info?Personal information is available to criminals—they purchase it on the dark web, obtain it through retail and commercial breaches, and get you to reveal it through text, phone, social media, and email phishing. Have you ever received one of those ‘fun’ surveys on social media that will reveal your personality type if you answer a few questions about your favorite color, first pet, or childhood best friend? These can be scams designed to get you to reveal the answers to common security questions. Don’t participate in these no matter where they originated. If you get a scam text, report it to your carrier. Forward the message to 7726 (SPAM). This works for all major mobile carriers. CTDOL will never:
Beware of:
Here are some examples of phishing and fraud texts we've seen:
CTDOL has 'ct.gov' extensions, not ct-gov.com. Notify us immediately using the CTDOL ID Theft Report Form if any of the below happen:
Ways to avoid being a victimCyber security experts recommend regular account maintenance to maintain the integrity and security of your personal information. The information available on the dark web is only as good as it is current. Update what you can—passwords (and don’t repeat passwords) and usernames, and don’t share them with anyone. Anything unsolicited is suspicious. If you didn’t ask for the information, independently verify it before you click on links or respond. Best practices include:
IF YOU ARE A VICTIM OF ID THEFT
Who can help:CTDOL’s Integrity Unit can assist if someone has submitted an unemployment application in your name. Submit the ID Theft Report Form immediately.
FRAUD ALERTSHelp us protect you by being vigilant about account security. View public fraud alerts on the US Department of Justice's Unemployment Insurance Fraud page How do you know if someone is using your name on EDD?If you receive documents from the EDD but did not file a claim for benefits, someone may have filed a claim under your name, address, or Social Security number. To report benefits fraud, visit Report Fraud in Ask EDD. You can also call the EDD Fraud Hotline at 1-800-229-6297.
What do I do if someone fraudulently filed unemployment in my name in Ohio?If you would like to explore resources available if you suspect or confirm that a fraudulent unemployment claim has been filed using your personal information: To speak to the Ohio Unemployment Fraud Unit directly, you may call the fraud line at: 800-686-1555.
How do I know if someone has filed unemployment in my name in PA?Contact the three major credit bureaus: Experian (1-888-397-3742), TransUnion (1-800-680-7289) and Equifax (1 800 525 6285). Get free credit reports by visiting annualcreditreport.com or calling 1-877-322-8228.
What do I do if someone filed for unemployment in my name in Michigan?What Should I Do If I Am A Victim of Unemployment Identity Theft? Contact the Unemployment Insurance Agency immediately to report the fraud. Report fraud online at michigan.gov/uia through the Report Fraud or Report Identity Theft link.
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