In a large-scale scam erupting in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, imposters are filing claims for unemployment benefits, using the names and personal information of people who have not filed claims. People learn about the fraud when they get a notice from their state unemployment benefits office or their employer about their supposed application for benefits. Show
If this happens to you, it means someone is misusing your personal information, including your Social Security number and date of birth. Act fast. Here are steps that can help you protect your finances and your credit:
One other thing: The unemployment payments usually are deposited to accounts the imposters control. But sometimes payments get sent to the real person’s account, instead. If this happens to you, the imposters may call, text, or email to try to get you to send some or all of the money to them. They may pretend to be your state unemployment agency and say the money was sent by mistake. This a money mule scam and participating in one could cause you more difficulties. If you get benefits you never applied for, report it to your state unemployment agency and ask for instructions. Don’t respond to any calls, emails, or text messages telling you to wire money, send cash, or put money on gift cards. Your state agency will never tell you to repay money that way. Anyone who tells you to do those things is a scammer. Every time. Updated September 23, 2022 to reflect the extension of weekly free credit reports through December 2023. States have experienced a surge in fraudulent unemployment claims filed by organized crime rings using stolen identities. Criminals are using these stolen identities to fraudulently collect benefits across multiple states. Because unemployment benefits are taxable income, states issue
Form 1099-G, Certain Government Payments, to recipients and to the IRS to report the amount of taxable compensation received and any withholding. Box 1 on the form shows "Unemployment Compensation." You should report fraud to the issuing state
agency and request a corrected Form 1099-G. For details on how to report fraud to state workforce agencies, how to obtain a corrected Form 1099-G, a list of state contacts and other steps you should take if you are a victim, see the U.S. Department of Labor’s
DOL.gov/fraud page. Please follow Department of Labor guidance on reporting fraud and protecting yourself from additional scams. You may be a victim of unemployment identity theft if you received:
IRS Information for TaxpayersWhen you file your income taxes, ONLY include income you received, even if you have not yet received a corrected 1099-G from the state.
IRS Information for EmployersEmployers are often the first line of defense against unemployment fraud. Employers should:
Justice Department Warns on Fake Unemployment Benefit WebsitesThe Department of Justice recently warned that fraudsters are creating websites mimicking unemployment benefit websites, including state workforce agency (SWA) websites, for the purpose of unlawfully capturing consumers’ personal
information. Help stop these scams by reporting them and using the list of state contacts at DOL.gov/fraud. How do I know if someone filed unemployment under my name in Virginia?In this case, you must contact the state unemployment office for each state where the illegal UI claims were filed. Here's how you do it: Request a free credit report from the three major credit reporting bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Review the credit reports for any suspicious activity in other states.
What do I do if someone filed for unemployment in my name in California?The best way to report false claims is by visiting Ask EDD and selecting the Report Fraud category to submit a Fraud Reporting Form online. You can also fax 1-866-340-5484 or call the EDD Fraud Hotline at 1-800-229-6297 (for reporting fraud only). When reporting fraud: Provide all relevant information about the issue.
How can I find out if someone has 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 my unemployment claim was approved in Texas?You can check your claim status online at Unemployment Benefits Services or call Tele-Serv at 800-558-8321. We use information from you and your last employer to determine if you qualify.
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