More than 260 Parkland College employees have become victims of fraudulent unemployment claims that have been sweeping across Illinois … While we know thousands of people are still waiting for unemployment insurance, we don't hear a lot about businesses stuck in the middle. Employers are advised to contact the state's Department of Economic Security if there's a fake claim. Copyright 2020 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Fake unemployment claims trigger tax troubles for victims of identity theft. In Arizona, unemployment insurance fraud may be considered a felony and any criminal charge for fraud should be taken seriously. DES urges victims to call their hotline at 1-800-251-2436 if you suspect you’re a fraud victim. Maki says she did that with a list of names but did not hear back. Criminal action may result in a fine and/or imprisonment. Scammers could face two years in prison and up to $150,000 in fines per fraudulent claim. Maki works at a local healthcare business and says 30% of unemployment claims she gets come from people who never worked there. With the pandemic program, that figure has skyrocketed. Although there has not been a breach of information stored by DES, fraudsters are using phishing scams, previous corporate data breaches and other tactics to collect information from individuals across the country and file for Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits. ... Scammers steal "hundreds of millions" using fake unemployment claims… That sergeant is expected to make a full recovery, police spokesman Detective Greg Bacon said. Unemployment Insurance Fraud in Arizona In the state of Arizona, unemployment fraud is a serious charge that carries with it some hefty penalties, including as much as two years in prison and fines up to $150,000 for each individual false statement made to the state of Arizona. "Kind of like any other insurance you pay a percentage of your wages. My office advises, counsels and defends individuals accused of unemployment insurance fraud in the State of Arizona. “The Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) is working with ID.me to allow people claiming unemployment to do so securely. Human Resources will email you to confirm the claim is fraudulent. Arrests made in Arizona unemployment fraud cases DES has not made it clear how many arrests have been made. “What concerned me is they were asking for more identification like my social security, so I got scared. Right now, over three million claims are being investigated for fraud by The Arizona Department of Economic Security. Last week, Arizona said it had flagged over one million of 2.4 million claims — more than … Officials said they received over one million suspected fraud claims in a span of 3 weeks. "I get at least two a week," says Violet Maki. Is this a scam are they going to get more information than they already have on me,” said Long. Local restaurant owner says he's received several fake unemployment claims. Over the past few months the Arizona Department of Economic Security has seen a sharp increase in the number of individuals fraudulently filing unemployment insurance claims using stolen personal information. That's money, allegedly, that he received in state unemployment … Scammers using real information to file fake unemployment claims in Kentucky | News | … “There’s so many hackers out there and so many scams going on,” Long added. … I filed May 10th in Arizona. And you never, ever saw a dime of that money? Send a letter to the state’s unemployment division explaining the situation and asking for the case to be closed. A Gray Media Group, Inc. Station - © 2002-2021 Gray Television, Inc. Peppersauce Canyon is located south-east of Oracle, northeast of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Arizona investigating more than 1 million unemployment claims for fraud Arizona is investigating more than one million unemployment claims for possible fraud, 3 On Your Side has learned. If the University receives an unemployment insurance claim for you. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. PHOENIX - After months of fraud and hundreds of … If you suspect you've received a fake claim, contact the state at 502-564-2387. She is, unfortunately, part of a massive group of Americans whose identities were hijacked in 2020 by criminals filing fake claims for unemployment. If your company receives a decision from the unemployment division awarding benefits on a fraudulent claim, appeal the decision and request a hearing. I’ve never lived in Michigan,” said LeeAnne Long, a fraud victim. If you think you've had a fake claim filed under your name, call the Department of Unemployment Assistance at 877-626-6800 or fill out a fraud form at mass.gov/unemployment-fraud.. As of the last week of June, the department has recovered $158 million in claims for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and to the Department of Unemployment Assistance. You may also submit a claim through the Federal Trade Commission’s website https://www.ftc.gov/. But what might be, is your ability to spot a fake — as these checks, all but check out. Officials said claims could take weeks up to months due to the backlog across the country. As part of our fraud … If you knowingly make a false statement or withhold information in order to collect unemployment insurance benefits to which you are not entitled, the Arizona Department of Economic Security may take civil or criminal action against you. 7831 N. Business Park DriveTucson, AZ 85743(520) 744-1313. TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD News 13) -Identity theft crime is on the rise not just in our state but nationwide. States pay unemployment claims from trust funds that are now tens of billions of dollars in debt mainly because of unemployment fraud. Arizona Unemployment Extensions Information Arizona unemployment extensions are only issued during times of high statewide unemployment. This new service with ID.me and DES starts the week of October 12, so Arizonans can access their benefits in a timely manner including claims for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program. In addition, you will be required to repay the amount you received illegally as well as penalty amounts which are added to each week that was fraudulently claimed. At the hearing, have the victim testify under oath that the claim is fraudulent. “Based on communications sent … PHOENIX (3 On Your Side) --Arizona may have been hit with as many as 2 million fraudulent unemployment claims, 3 On Your Side has learned.The new number dwarfs previous estimates, as … Posted: Aug 10, 2020 / 09:40 PM CDT / Updated: Aug 10, 2020 / 09:50 PM CDT. He said the agency has also received 25,640 reports of unemployment fraud. "There are two that have similar names, same social security numbers, which makes one think some auto entity is just cycling them through," she says. However, it is still important that you take steps 3-7 described above. Those claims were not paid. She said she’s never been a victim of fraud, until she filed for unemployment six months ago. Monday, June 29, 2020. Fraudster ring operating out of Nigeria has used stolen identities to file fake jobless claims in dozens of states. Camp … “I just got another one this morning," she says. Standard unemployment benefits are issued to eligible applicants for 29 weeks. Brett Bezio, a spokesperson for DES, told Arizona Family that Arizona has flagged “hundreds of thousands” of suspicious unemployment claims. LIVE RADAR: Rain and snow chances across the state. She became more suspicious when she called the fraud support number on the form, and a voice recording directed her to a website. Officials said they received over one million suspected fraud claims in a span of 3 weeks. Millions of unemployment claims are being investigated here in Arizona. Now fraudulent sites have popped up claiming they will help you file your unemployment-insurance claim and collect your benefits. All rights reserved. Arizona reported nearly 2.7 million unemployment claims from the beginning of the pandemic through August, and there are only 3.4 million working Arizonans, with more than 1 million PUA claims flagged as potentially fraudulent. Maki worries that some businesses may be too busy now and not look at every claim. The state says its systems have not been compromised. An unemployment benefits extension can help many people who are receiving unemployment benefits but are having a very hard time finding a job. While we know thousands of people are still waiting for unemployment insurance, we don't hear a lot about businesses stuck in the middle. PHOENIX – Attorney General Mark Brnovich is warning Arizonans about unemployment insurance fraud claims that could be related to possible identity theft. Several arrests have been made in connection to unemployment claim fraud in Arizona since the department implemented a task force last month cracking down on scammers. Initial claimants will now have to go through ID.me to verify their identity before receiving benefits. Maki says 30% of the claims that come through her office are fake. These phishing sites are fraudulent. ARIZONA, USA — As Arizonans have sought unemployment benefits during the pandemic, scammers have found ways to take advantage of the system too. Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press. Copyright 2020 KOLD News 13. And if you seem to have a track record of people needing unemployment, that can drive your insurance rates," she says. In Arizona UI fraud is a class VI felony. Hogan announced Wednesday that state and federal officials had uncovered that a massive, sophisticated criminal enterprise was behind more than 47,500 fraudulent unemployment claims totaling more than $501 million in his state. The owner of Chi Thai Restaurant says he doesn’t recognize any of the people who claim … They are being used by scammers to set up fake claims, and hopefully to collect from them. “There’s so many hackers out there and so many scams going on,” Long added. An Arizona man pleaded guilty Wednesday in Las Vegas to possession of more than $200,000 in unemployment benefits from fraudulent claims. Arizona Unemployment Fraud Representation and Defense. I will help you defend your rights against the DES and give confidence that your best … More than 5,000 have been confirmed to be fraudlent, while a majority are still pending review. And she tries to see if there are similarities in the fake claims to know where they may be coming from. But now, are you supposed to pay taxes on it? “I felt really glad that Arizona has a hotline where someone actually picks up the phone and not directed to a website,” Long said. If you're a business still getting a lot of fake unemployment claims, we want to know rebound@abc15.com. Human Resources will notify the claims management vendor to dispute the claim, which will also correct the record with DES. Retirees, for example, report receiving unemployment forms to verify their identity from the state when they didn't try to make any claims recently. Imagine seeing a tax form pop up in the mail which indicates that you need to claim an extra $5,000 or more in taxable income on your federal income tax return. I’m worried because I don’t know how Michigan got my information to begin with,” Long said. She says she examines every claim. We recommend employees send it in a way that can be … Seven months into the pandemic and the skyrocketing need for unemployment pay, Arizona businesses are still getting a lot of unexplained claims. “This claim was filed May 24th using my identity, filed in Michigan.

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