Unemployment Scam
What happened?
Several staff members have reported receiving large unemployment checks without filing for unemployment. This is caused by false claims for unemployment being filed. This has become a problem across the state and across the country. On May 24th the PA Department of Labor and Industry issued this official guidance:
https://www.uc.pa.gov/unemployment-benefits/file/Documents/PUA-2%2005-20.pdf
If you have received an unsolicited unemployment check it is likely your SSN and Date of Birth were stolen in a previous data breach and then used to fraudulently apply for Unemployment Benefits.
What Should I Do Now?
- Do not cash the check. Return it to:
Department of Treasury Comptroller’s Office
Attn: Mark Accorsi
Room 113, Finance Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120 - File a report with your local police.
- Report the Office of Unemployment Compensation
https://www.uc.pa.gov/Pages/Report-Fraud-Here.aspx - Report to the FTC www.identitytheft.com
- I recommend freezing your credit. The only downside is it will take you more time to open new credit accounts in the future. See https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/how-to-freeze-credit
- Look out for follow up emails, texts, letters, and phone calls that may be related. It is possible the perpetrators will try to contact you.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Eric Zematis
Chief Information Security Officer
Lehigh University
