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District Attorney David Hoovler Warns Citizens About Fraudulent Claims for Unemployment Benefits



False Claims Made Using Citizens’ Social Security Numbers

Fraudulent Claims for Unemployment Benefits


Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler, on February 26, 2021, issued a warning to Orange County residents about fraudulent claims for unemployment benefits, claims made by fraudsters using other people’s social security numbers. Orange County has recently been seeing an uptick in that type of fraudulent claim.

Frequently, scammers come into possession of other’s social security numbers, and use those numbers to file claims for unemployment benefits, among other things. As a result, aside from fraudulent unemployment claims, scammers often have fraudulent credit cards issued to them in the victims’ names, scammers can raid victims bank accounts, victims can receive bills for goods and services that they did not purchase, and a whole host of other financial consequences may occur to victims.

If you believe that a scammer has fraudulently filed for unemployment benefits in your name, notify your employer, and notify the New York State Department of Labor’s Fraud Unit online at webapps.labor.ny.gov/dews/ui/fraud/report-fraud.shtm

In addition, if you believe that you are a victim of identity theft, you can report that to the Federal Trade Commission online at identitytheft.gov/

“The unscrupulous will stop at nothing to make an illegal buck,” said District Attorney Hoovler, “especially during this COVID-19 pandemic. Identity theft remains a significant problem, whether it shows up in unemployment insurance fraud or in other types of scams. I urge all of Orange County’s residents to keep a close eye on their financial matters, so that they can be sure they aren’t victims of identity theft. Check your credit reports regularly. Pay attention to any mail you get from financial institutions or from the government, mail that might be a red flag that your identity has been stolen. And, above all, don’t share personal information with anyone you don’t know and trust, especially online. Taking care with your finances is an important way to help minimize the risk of identity theft.”

Editor’s Note: Based on information posted on Facebook, the issues identified by the Orange County District Attorney, is a countrywide issue.  



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