Unemployment Help Ohio Gov Identity Theft

Widespread Unemployment Fraud What To Do

New hotline helping victims of unemployment identity theft in Ohio

Background

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services says that half of the 1.4 million unemployment claims filed since May of 2020 were flagged as potentially fraudulent. In December alone, more than 100,000 fraudulent Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims were stopped before payments were processed. For a system already stretched thin due to the volume of legitimate claims, this is a huge challenge.

Hundreds of thousands of people have had their names and Social Security numbers used by others to claim unemployment benefits. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and his wife, Fran, were two of the victims. Many people are just learning that they may have been identity theft victims as the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services has begun mailing out the 1099-G tax forms to report unemployment compensation. This 1099 form may be the first indication to a victim that anything is wrong since unemployment claims are usually sent by direct deposit or debit card directly to the person committing the fraud. This is exacerbated by email-only correspondence during the pandemic.

ODJFS estimates the cost of fraudulent unemployment claims to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Other states are experiencing the same thing, as criminals take advantage of expanded federal unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic without the normal confirmation processes in place.

Action Steps For Individuals

Action Steps For Employers Focus on Your Employees

Other States

How To Report Unemployment Identity Theft In Ohio By Yourself

Make an official report on Ohio’s website.
It’s an online process that may take so much time and devastate you, especially because they do not call you back for updates.

Under the type of submission option, click on the report suspected fraud option.
Provide your name, social security number, and an accurate address.
Upload the statements regarding the fraud claim.

Upload a copy of the driver’s license.

This process can take a lot of time and require close follow-up. Due to the sensitive nature of fraud and the financial dent that comes with unemployment identity fraud, it is paramount that quick action is taken to resolve the matter.

Youll also want to be sure and follow up with these steps to make sure your information is protected:

Sadly, most of the unemployment identity theft claims are never followed up, and you may end up losing money. This can cause a lot of emotional and physical drain trying to get help. You need a quick solution such as the fast online service offered by DoNotPay.

How To Report Unemployment Identity Theft In Ohio

If you suspect that you are a victim of unemployment identity theft in Ohio, visit the Ohio department of jobs and Family Services website.

Complete the online process by submitting the details required. This process can be tedious and time-consuming. DoNotPay offers you a much faster option because they report for you instantly.

Justice Department Warns On Fake Unemployment Benefit Websites

The Department of Justice recently warned that fraudsters are creating websites mimicking unemployment benefit websites, including state workforce agency websites, for the purpose of unlawfully capturing consumers personal information.To lure consumers to these fake websites, fraudsters send spam text messages and emails purporting to be from an SWA and containing a link. The fake websites are designed to trick consumers into thinking they are applying for unemployment benefits and disclosing personally identifiable information and other sensitive data. That information can then be used by fraudsters to commit identity theft.

Help stop these scams by reporting them and using the list of state contacts at DOL.gov/fraud.

Reporting Unemployment Identity Theft

Unemployment claim scam gains steam across Ohio

Report unemployment identity theft to the state where it occurred. Use the State Directory for Reporting Unemployment Identity Theft, below, to report it to the state.

You may not receive an immediate confirmation from the state when you submit a report. Time estimates for how long this process takes vary by state.

The state may require additional documentation in order to open an investigation they will review your case and make a determination. Each state has different requirements and a different process for investigating identity theft.

If you received a 1099-G tax form for benefits you didnt receive, the state will need to issue you a corrected 1099-G tax form and will update the tax record with the IRS on your behalf.

When you file your income taxes, ONLY include income you actually received. Do not wait to receive a corrected 1099-G to file your taxes.

The processing of your tax return should not be delayed while your report of unemployment identity theft is under investigation.

If you have not filed your taxes yet, do not report the incorrect 1099-G income on your tax return.

If you have already filed your taxes, do not file an amended return. The IRS will issue additional guidance regarding your next steps. Refer to the Identity Theft and Unemployment Benefits page on IRS.gov for updates and additional tax filing information.

Also Check: Tax Return For Unemployment Benefits

How To Prevent Unemployment Identity Theft In Ohio

Collect your mail dailyThe mail is an easy way to detect identity theft. If you receive statements that you are not aware of or you stop receiving statements, you may be a victim of identity theft.

Freeze your creditsThis will prevent you or anyone else from getting a new credit card or accessing credit facilities in your name.

You need to go through your bank and and see if there is any irregular information.

Shred all documents before disposalMost of your office documents may contain crucial personal information. Shred before disposal to prevent other people from accessing your information or using it to commit fraud.

Create different passwordsMost people argue that it’s easy to have one password for all accounts because it’s easy to memorize. However, hackers take advantage of this to access information and use it to file for unemployment benefits fraudulently.

Protect your gadgets with antivirusProtecting your devices with an antivirus keeps them safe from hackers who try to access them to steal your personal information.

How To Report Unemployment Benefits Fraud

The Department of Unemployment Assistance’s top priority is to protect unemployment claimants and make sure money disbursed through the system is going to valid unemployment claims.

Upon review of your Fraud Reporting Form submission, DUAs Program Integrity team will make note of the submission on the claim filed in your name and lock the claim, which will cease activity on that claim. In addition, this information will be provided to law enforcement as part of their investigation of the national unemployment fraud scheme.

The DUA Program Integrity team will process the reported fraud to ensure that if any payments were made, they are not recognized as income to you and are not reported to the IRS on Form 1099-G at the end of the calendar year for tax purposes. If you have already received a 1099-G related to this fraudulent claim, we will review your request and send you a corrected Form 1099-G. In addition, the fraudulent claim will not impact your ability to collect unemployment should you need to in the future and no charges will be assessed to your employer .

If you are an employer who wishes to report fraud, please email .

Recommended Reading: Can I Collect Unemployment And Disability At The Same Time

Irs Information For Employers

Employers are often the first line of defense against unemployment fraud. Employers should:

Respond quickly to state notices that its employees have filed for unemployment claims, especially if the names on the notices are not employees
Be alert to misuse of the IRS-issued Employer Identification Number that fraudsters may use to file jobless claims
File a Form 14039-BPDF, Business Identity Theft Affidavit, if the companys EIN is being used to generate fraudulent unemployment benefit claims.

Write to the IRS to close out the business tax account if the company is going out of business this will help curtail the misuse of dormant EINs.

Next Steps For Reporting Unemployment Identity Theft If You Can’t Do It Yourself

ODJFS creates toll-free number to report identify theft stemming from fraudulent unemployment claims

DoNotPay is a fast and convenient solution for resolving unemployment identity theft in Ohio. It files the claim for you and makes the immediate follow-up to ensure that you get help instantly.

All you need to do is provide all relevant information to DoNotPay, and they will take care of the rest. Some of the information includes personal identification information, credit card or bank statements, and statements regarding the fraud claim.

DoNotPay picks it up from there and does all the paperwork and follow-up for you with a click of a button.

How to deal with identity theft using DoNotPay:

Search “identity theft” on DoNotPay and select the type of incident you would like to report.

Tell us more about the incident that occurred, including the location, date, time, financial loss, and any suspect information you may have.

Well identify whether you should file an FTC report, contact the IRS, freeze your credit report, contact state agencies, or file a police report. Once we guide you through the best options, we’ll automatically submit the reports on your behalf.

And that’s it. DoNotPay will make sure your issue gets sent to the right place. We’ll upload confirmation documents to your task for you to view, and if the contacts need more information, they will reach out to you personally via email or mail.

How To Prevent Identity Theft

Defending yourself from identity theft is important. To protect yourself:

Do not respond to phishing phone calls, emails or texts. Scammers pose as banks, the government or even people you know.

Leave your credit cards at home when you are not using them.
Keep your Social Security card in a safe place at home.
Shred documents that have personal information on them before throwing them away.

On the internet, only make purchases on secure websites. Keep your computers antivirus and security software up to date.
Set a password or passcode on your cell phone to protect your personal information.

Irs Information For Taxpayers

When you file your income taxes, ONLY include income you received, even if you have not yet received a corrected 1099-G from the state.

The processing of your tax return should not be delayed while your report of unemployment identity theft is under investigation.
Do not report the incorrect 1099-G income on your tax return.
The American Rescue Plan of 2021 provides for a one-time exemption of $10,200 per person in unemployment benefits to individuals and couples who earned $150,000 or less in 2020. If you have already filed your taxes, do not file an amended return. See Tax Treatment of 2020 Unemployment Compensation for more information.

There is no requirement to file a Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit. A Form 14039 should be filed only if the taxpayers e-filed tax return is rejected because a duplicate return with their Social Security number is already on file or if the IRS instructs them to file a Form 14039.
Taxpayers who were victims of an unemployment benefits identity theft scheme should consider opting into the IRS Identity Protection PIN program. An IP PIN is a six-digit number that helps prevent thieves from filing federal tax returns in the names of identity theft victims. The IP PIN is a voluntary program open to any taxpayer who can verify his or her identity. See details at Get an IP PIN.

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Also Check: When Should I File For Unemployment

Signs That You May Be A Victim Of Unemployment Identity Theft

Most victims of unemployment identity theft are unaware that claims have been filed and/or that benefits have been collected using their identities. Many people only find out unemployment identity theft occurred when they receive something in the mail, such as a payment or state issued 1099-G tax form thats incorrect or for benefits not received.

Sample form from the IRS.gov website: IRS form Certain Government Payments 1099-G

Ghanbari Warns Of Rising Unemployment Fraud Cases

Sentinel-TribuneHaraz N. Ghanbari In The News

COLUMBUS, Ohio State Rep. Haraz Ghanbari, R-Perrysburg, announces a surge in unemployment fraud cases throughout Ohio. With tax season approaching, many Ohioans have received unauthorized 1099-G forms, which may indicate an individuals information was compromised and subsequently used to file fraudulent unemployment claims.

My office has been working diligently with citizens in Wood County who have been affected, Ghanbari said. If youre an Ohioan who received a 1099-G form and did not file for unemployment, or you have noticed unauthorized access of your personally identifiable information, it is imperative to take immediate action to further safeguard your identity.

In January, ODJFS issued 1.7 million 1099-G tax forms to individuals whose information was used to apply for benefits. Many of those individuals were never paid unemployment benefits and did not know their identity had been compromised until they received a 1099-G form.

Additional potential fraud indicators include:

A letter from ODJFS stating that unemployment benefits have been applied for in your name.

A U.S. Bank ReliaCard for funds you do not recognize or were not expecting.
Notification from your employer that ODJFS is inquiring about unemployment benefits that you did not apply for.

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Cybercriminals Still Targeting Oh Unemployment Accounts

COLUMBUS, Ohio More than two years after the pandemic started, cybercriminals continue to target Ohio’s unemployment system.

News 5 Investigators found reports of identity theft and fraud started increasing at the beginning of 2022.

News 5 Investigators found between December 15, 2021 and the end of March, 72,308 Ohio workers reported identity theft to the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services online portal.

REPORT OH UNEMPLOYMENT IDENTITY THEFT: ODJFS Identity Theft and Unemployment Benefits

Reports of attempted account takeovers, where cybercriminals access workers’ unemployment accounts and reroute benefits to their own bank accounts, have also increased in 2022, according to Bill Teets, Director of Communications, Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services.

He said ODJFS is unable to provide a specific number of attempted account takeovers.

Constant target Alex Hamerstone, a cybersecurity expert at TrustedSec, an information security consulting business based in Strongsville, was not surprised when we told him about the increasing reports of identity theft.

“It’s going to ebb and flow,” he said. “They have a lot of money. They have a lot of information flowing through there and so they’re going to be a target for criminals.”

He said cybercriminals also pay attention to news and current events.

“So when there’s going to be a huge glut of unemployment claims, scammers know that they can kind of get in on that,” he said. “It’s almost like hiding in a crowd.”

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Shelby County is located in the heartland of Ohio. Established in 1819, our county is 420 square-miles of agriculture and industry, providing a stable economy. With eight incorporated villages and 14 townships, Shelby County is known for its close-knit communities, solid work ethic and a together we can attitude that brings private industry and government together regularly to accomplish any task at hand. Our area boasts the safety and comfort of living in a smaller community, but provides easy access to larger cities and all of their amenities.

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ODJFS to Offer Free Credit Monitoring to Victims of Unemployment-Related ID Theft

Individuals who reported being the victim of such identity theft will be eligible for one year of credit monitoring at no charge. Those who believe they were victims, but have not yet reported it, can do so at unemployment.ohio.gov or by calling 658-0394. The services include identity theft monitoring, restoration, and insurance.

In order to be eligible for the free credit monitoring service, individuals must complete the ID Theft Portal Fraud Form at Identity Theft | Ohio Unemployment Benefits Help no later than May 22, 2022. The deadline to register for identity protection services is June 25, 2022.

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For Compliance with No Surprises Act

You May Be A Victim Of Unemployment Identity Theft If You Received:

Mail from a government agency about an unemployment claim or payment and you did not recently file for unemployment benefits. This includes unexpected payments or debit cards and could be from any state.
A 1099-G tax form reflecting unemployment benefits you werent expecting. Box 1 on this form may show unemployment benefits you did not receive or an amount that exceeds your records for the unemployment benefits you did receive. The form itself may be from a state in which you do not live or did not file for benefits.
While you are still employed, a notice from your employer indicating that your employer received a request for information about an unemployment claim in your name.

Free Credit Monitoring Available For Unemployment

The Rebound: Unemployment Fraud Update

Provided by Hannah News Service

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services announced Tuesday that individuals who have told the department they were victims of unemployment-related identify theft can receive free credit monitoring for one year. This will include identity theft monitoring, restoration and insurance. About 410,000 individuals who reported they had been victims of identity theft are being notified about their eligibility. Other who think they were victims but have not reported it to ODJFS can do so at or by calling 833.658.0394.

An ODJFS release said that criminals used personal information obtained through large-scale data breaches to file claims using the victims personal information. ODJFS is using an existing state contract with IDX, a nationally recognized provider of credit monitoring services. The cost to the state is estimated to be between $588,000 and $748,000 based on participation. Since the start of the pandemic, ODJFS has paid approximately $24 billion to 2.4 million claimants and found $496 million in fraudulent overpayments.