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Fraud AlertUnemployment Benefits ScamHave you received a phone call or email from someone asking you to withdraw or forward an unexpected automatic deposit in your account (or part of it) to someone else? Have you received a letter from the Montana Department of Labor & Industry addressing your application for Unemployment Insurance (UI) or Pandemic Unemployment Insurance benefits -- but you didn’t apply for unemployment benefits? Sophisticated fraud rings are operating a nationwide scheme taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to steal money in state unemployment benefits, including in Montana. The scammers file for unemployment benefits using data they have gained in other data hacks. Through these data breaches, they have obtained sensitive personally identifiable information belonging to their victims, including names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and social security numbers. The unemployment benefits are deposited into the victim’s account, or another account, and the scammers have the money forwarded to them. What to do if you suspect you are a victim of unemployment fraud?If you received any of the warning signs listed above and suspect you may be a victim of unemployment fraud, you should:
The U.S. Department of Labor recently issued an Unemployment Insurance Fraud alert, reporting that scammers are targeting personal information. For more information on this alert, visit http://uid.dli.mt.gov/Portals/55/Documents/fraud/Fraud_Alert_Graphic_UI_Phishing.pdf?ver=2020-06-15-144621-597. |