Beware of unemployment fraud

Posted on June 4, 2020 by The Money Mill

There are always new angles for scammers to take advantage of any situation, and unemployment fraud just happens to be the latest. There is a nationwide scam targeting state unemployment systems.

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development issued a warning about criminals in possession of stolen personal information from previous data breaches, now attempting to file fraudulent unemployment claims through the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance.

If you believe a claim has been filed in your name we would encourage you to take the following actions:

File a police report on your stolen identity
Report the fraudulent claim to unemployment assistance
- MA: 877.626.6800
- NH: 603.447.3951
If you are currently employed, notify your Human Resources Department.
Contact the three credit bureaus to place a credit freeze on your identity
- Equifax: 800.349.9960
- Experian: 888.397.3742
- Trans Union: 888.909.8872
Contact a Branch Manager to place a password on your CIF (if you are a JDCU member) or follow-up with your own financial institution to inform them of the fraud.

Subscribe to The Money Mill to get a link to our free online financial wellness program that’s designed to help you successfully manage your financial life. Plus, you’ll receive emails whenever we publish a new article so you’ll never miss a beat! We promise, no junk mail.