What to do if Your Information was used to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance benefits

Your must-do list if your information was stolen for an unemployment claim

You may have received mail from the New York State Unemployment confirming benefits, or maybe a tax document regarding benefits. Perhaps your employer has received notification that you filed for unemployment. But you’ve never filed for unemployment. These are all signs that someone has used your information to fraudulently obtain these benefits.

 
If your information has been stolen and used in an unemployment claim, you may feel helpless. But follow these steps to start repairing the damage and reclaiming control.


Step One – Contact Human Resources

Contact your employer’s HR staff to coordinate and report the incident to your employer. You’ll want this documented because the Department of Labor contacts your employer to verify your unemployed status.


Step Two – Contact New York State Department of Labor

Report the fraud to NYS DOL at 1.888.598.2077 or through their online form: https://labor.ny.gov/agencyinfo/uifraud.shtm


Step Three – File a Police Report

File an online or non-emergency report with the agency whose jurisdiction you live in.


Step Four – Report to the Three Major Credit Bureaus

A fraud alert will make it more difficult for someone to open new accounts in your name. To place a fraud alert, you only need to contact one of the three credit bureaus. That bureau will then notify the other credit bureaus.

• Experian: 1.888.397.3742
• TransUnion:1.800.680.7289
• Equifax: 1.888.766.0008

Step Five – Report to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) & Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

File a short report with the FTC at https://www.identitytheft.gov. Provide the case number from your police report.


Step Six – Keep Your Notes

Retain any notes, copies of emails, etc., related to your reports and the fraud activity. Keep track of whom you speak with and when as you may need to reference this information in subsequent calls.


Step Seven – Contact MHV

Contact MHV at ContactUs@mhvfcu.com or 845.336.4444. We will update your MHV accounts to included added security. You should also contact any other financial institutions with whom you have a relationship.

Download a Copy of The Checklist

If you’re a victim of unemployment fraud, use this editable checklist to keep track of your notes and action items.

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