Dramatic Rise in Unemployment Benefits Fraud Impacts Some Employees

Some active MCPS employees have recently received mail from the Maryland Department of Labor regarding their application for unemployment benefits. But the employees did not file for unemployment benefits. The state says they may be the victims of identity theft.

An unprecedented increase in unemployment fraud, primarily targeting Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, is ongoing nationwide. Identity thieves are filing for unemployment benefits using other people’s personal information. If you receive notification from the Maryland Department of Labor’s Division of Unemployment Insurance about an unemployment claim you did not file, you will need to:

• Notify the Division of Unemployment Insurance Benefit Payment Control Unit by email.
• Give them your full name and the last four digits of your Social Security number. Tell them you currently work for MCPS, and that you did not file a claim.
• Ask them to lock the claim immediately.

In addition, the state suggests the following tips to protect yourself from future fraud attacks:

• Request your free credit reports and review them for other fraudulent activities.
• Notify all three credit bureaus—Experian, Equifax and Transunion—that you have been a victim of identity theft.
• File a police report with local authorities.
• File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
• File a complaint with the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) by completing the NCDF Disaster Complaint Form.
• Read identity theft protection tips from the Maryland State Police.

To learn more, read this press release from the Maryland Department of Labor.