There was a fraudulent unemployment claim filed in my name with my information. How can I get this resolved?

This is a serious situation, and it’s important to address the fraudulent claim on your record so you can file for unemployment when you need to. Here is the process you should follow to resolve this issue.

Step 1: Report the Fraud

The first step is to report the fraudulent claim to the appropriate authorities.

• State Unemployment Agency: You must contact the unemployment insurance agency for the state where the fraudulent claim was filed. Even if you don’t know which state, you should contact the state where you worked in 2020. Report the identity theft and explain that a claim was filed without your permission.
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC): File an official report with the FTC. You can do this online at IdentityTheft.gov. This is a crucial step as it creates an official record of the fraud, which can be helpful in future disputes.
• Local Police: While not always required, you can file a police report with your local police department. This provides another layer of documentation.

Step 2: Get Proof of Your Identity

When you contact these agencies, you will need to prove your identity. Have the following documents ready:

• Social Security card
• Government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, state ID)
• Pay stubs or other proof of employment for 2020

Step 3: Contact the Agencies

Because you need to speak to someone to resolve this, here are some key contacts:

• State Unemployment Agency: Find the customer service number or fraud department number for the state agency. You can usually find this by searching online for “unemployment [State Name] contact” or “report unemployment fraud [State Name]”. Be prepared for a potentially long wait time.
• Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion: Contact the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit report. A fraud alert will make it more difficult for someone to open new accounts in your name. You only need to contact one of them, and that bureau is legally obligated to inform the other two.

Step 4: Follow Up

Keep detailed records of every phone call, email, or letter. Note the date, the name of the person you spoke to, and a summary of the conversation. Ask for a reference or case number for your report. This documentation is essential if you need to follow up again.

Once you have reported the fraud and have a case number, you can explain the situation and provide the case number when you apply for your new unemployment claim in late October. The documentation will show that the prior claim was fraudulent and allow your legitimate claim to be processed.