“State officials have said the rise in unemployment fraud is likely due to large corporate data breaches, such as one in 2017 involving Equifax that exposed the personal data of millions of people.”
State and federal officials are encouraging Illinoisans to stay vigilant as reports of unemployment insurance fraud swell.
From the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, fraudulent claims have been an issue as a record number of Illinois residents file for benefits and Congress provides additional jobless aid. Illinois has stopped more than 350,000 fraudulent claims since March 1, according to the state’s Department of Employment Security.
Reports of fraud have been so widespread — often inundating local police departments — that the FBI, IRS and several state agencies launched a task force to tackle the problem.
The Illinois Attorney General’s office has received more than 1,400 complaints since June from people who allege someone else filed an unemployment insurance claim in their name, spokeswoman Tori Joseph said.
Here’s what to be on the lookout for and what steps to take.
- How do I know if I’m a victim of fraud?
- Why did I receive a debit card?
- What steps should I take to protect myself?
- How do I avoid becoming a victim of fraud?
- Am I responsible for funds paid to fraudsters?
- What if I need to file for benefits?
Read the answers to these question in the Chicago Tribune here.
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