IDES has uncovered and is investigating a widespread fraud scheme that is being conducted nationwide, impacting each state’s federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance programs, implemented as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
PUA provides 100 percent federally funded unemployment benefits for hundreds of thousands of individuals who were not traditionally covered by a state’s regular unemployment insurance program, including self-employed and sole proprietors. Under this program, 39 weeks’ worth of benefits are available to PUA claimants whose claims can be backdated as early as February 2, with benefits ending December 26, according to IDES.
The department claims to be cracking down on this fraud network, whose team of staffers responsible for handling and investigating unemployment fraud are working directly with individuals whose identities are being used or have possibly been stolen. IDES is also working with local and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate, pursue, and prosecute those who are defrauding the unemployment insurance system.
“An individual who has not filed an unemployment claim, but has received a debit card or an unemployment insurance finding letter in the mail, has most likely been the target of fraud. An individual’s personal identifying information is being used by fraudsters to file an unemployment claim. It is likely due to a prior cyber hack or data breach, such as the Equifax breach,” according to IDES.
—Unemployment Insurance Identity Theft Fraud—
Unemployment Insurance identity theft fraud occurs when someone’s identity has been stolen and a claim has been opened in their name. If you suspect a claim has been submitted using your information, and you have not applied for unemployment insurance benefits in Illinois, please call our Benefit Payment Control Division at (800) 814-0513. When prompted:
1) Select English or Spanish language option;
2) Select option: #1 for claimants, and;
3) Select option #5 to report identity theft.
-Victims may contact the following organizations after filing a police report-
The links to report the fraud include:
-Federal Trade Commission: https://www.ftc.gov/…/consume…/submit-consumer-complaint-ftc
-Internal Revenue Service: https://www.irs.gov/ident…/employment-related-identity-theft
-Illinois Department of Revenue (email): REV.IdentityTheftAffidavit@Illinois.gov
—Credit reporting agencies—
-Equifax: 800-525-6285
-Experian: 888-397-3742
-Trans Union: 800-680-7289
