[NA](Texas) unemployment scams[NA]

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Joined
Feb 23, 2005
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20,261
Location
west Texas
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Dave Taylor
Wondering how these scams work, and what ways are best used to defeat them;
My wife and I are partners in our LLC and we are paid as employees.
The business got a notice from the state agency (it is identical in form to valid unemployment notices and has their correct contact info on it plus her SSN so I think this is not from the scammer) saying she has been permanently laid off. Nothing could be further from the truth, and we have not contacted them about anything.

Can I presume that the scammer registered a notice of being laid off, with the plan of somehow collecting from the state?
That would seem to require me, the biz owner, ignoring the notice; and also the payments being sent to the scammer's mailing address and then their bank allowing them to cash the checks using an incorrect name.
Also not thrilled that if this was successful, my biz gets a chargeback for a successful claim.

I went to the state's website and the chat feature is automated, gives general directions only.
The phone number allows you to leave a message but they have not called back.
They have a fraud reporting line which also has been unproductive.
Time is ticking by, I guess I can respond by registered snailmail and hope for the best.
 
Many states allow direct deposit or use a debit card to issue unemployment benefits. I suppose they could get ahold of the online account info and redirect what bank account it goes to or where the debit card is sent.

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Can I presume that the scammer registered a notice of being laid off, with the plan of somehow collecting from the state?

yes. Sorry that I can't help you get it fixed. But that unemployment scam is happening all across the nation. One insidious aspect is that the resulting need for the State agencies to carefully verify claims slows down the process of getting benefits to the people who are actually unemployed.
 
Someone filed a claim in my name 2 months ago. Same with my dad (who is retired). My employer denied it so the state shut it down. We live in fun times.
 
Common scam. The scammers have reaped billions (with a capital B) as money has flowed (faster, faster) and as more people have applied (making it easier to try and hide) and as state staffing to combat the fraud hasn't increased.

Chances are that the scammer is getting the benefits redirected. And the victim ends up with the bill - including income tax on the payments (lots of folks are discovering the scam as tax season is upon us).

Contact the unemployment office and get them to investigate and reverse the claim. There are enough of these cases that it should be familiar to them. For you don't there may very well be a tax consequence, which would be a nasty surprise.

Free money. What could possibly go wrong.
 
Unemployment benefits are taxable by the feds and some states.
 
Someone else just went through this. Was it Troy?
 
It was me. Someone in Ohio drew $1,198 in my name for unemployment benefits.

I also got a debit card in my name for unemployment benefits which I destroyed.
 
Wondering how these scams work, and what ways are best used to defeat them;
My wife and I are partners in our LLC and we are paid as employees.
The business got a notice from the state agency (it is identical in form to valid unemployment notices and has their correct contact info on it plus her SSN so I think this is not from the scammer) saying she has been permanently laid off. Nothing could be further from the truth, and we have not contacted them about anything.

Can I presume that the scammer registered a notice of being laid off, with the plan of somehow collecting from the state?
That would seem to require me, the biz owner, ignoring the notice; and also the payments being sent to the scammer's mailing address and then their bank allowing them to cash the checks using an incorrect name.
Also not thrilled that if this was successful, my biz gets a chargeback for a successful claim.

I went to the state's website and the chat feature is automated, gives general directions only.
The phone number allows you to leave a message but they have not called back.
They have a fraud reporting line which also has been unproductive.
Time is ticking by, I guess I can respond by registered snailmail and hope for the best.

Keep a good record of your attempts to contact them and I would say yes, snail mail it with return receipt.
 
Many states allow direct deposit or use a debit card to issue unemployment benefits. I suppose they could get ahold of the online account info and redirect what bank account it goes to or where the debit card is sent.

Sent from my SM-N976U using Tapatalk

This. It’s mostly the cards. If they can get access to the mail they’ll target someone and steal the card. Some states send a pin separately... also thru the mail... brilliant as they are. Ha.
 
Someone else just went through this. Was it Troy?

It was. We’ve had something like 10 of our staff hit. Maybe more by now.

I was involved in the first wave since there was a concern it was a personal information breach. I doubt they’re even bothering to tell me about any new ones now.

Makes ya wonder how organized it is and which gangs run it, really. What’s the expected take after expenses on lots and lots of billions in free money? Better and safer (legally anyway) than pushing illegal drugs, I assume. Especially with borders relatively closed.
 
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