State Warns About Unemployment Fraud

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The unemployment agency in Michigan is reminding businesses and individuals to beware of identity theft. Michigan Talent Investment Agency Deputy Director of Unemployment Insurance Michelle Beebe tells WSJM News recent data breeches have led to a jump in scammers trying to collect unemployment benefits using stolen identities.

“During the month of January, we were receiving anywhere from 1,600 to 2,000 calls per week to our fraud hotline,” Beebe said.

Beebe tells us a business will get notice one of its employees has filed for unemployment. If the business is paying any kind of attention, they’ll know something is wrong. In those cases, both the business and the affected employee should notify the Talent Investment Agency’s fraud line. The state has also stepped up its own procedures for spotting identity theft before it results in fraud. You can find more information right here.