Unemployment Insurance Fund Fraudsters

The Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) has reported cases of fraudulent unemployment claims. Identities are being stolen and fraudulent claims are being filed in the names of actively working people. The DETR uses multiple factors to verify identity, but if your identity has been stolen, there’s a risk.

You can check to see if someone has used your social security number for unemployment benefits via your earnings and leave statement which can be done online at: https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/.

If you're an individual or employer and suspect unemployment insurance fraud, it should be reported online: https://detr.nv.gov/ by selecting the Fraud Reporting Form on the left-hand side of the site under “Quick links”. Claims will be investigated by DETR staff.

The DETR has stated that Employer accounts will not be charged for fraudulent claims.

We also recommend reporting potential fraud involving unemployment insurance to the FBI by filing a complaint through their Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): www.ic3.gov as well as to the Social Security Administration: https://oig.ssa.gov/.

If an individual has been a victim of identity theft, Nevada has provided a program to help prove the claim, restore credit, and protect against improper criminal charges.

Access the program online at: http://ag.nv.gov/Hot_Topics/Victims/ID_Theft_Program/

The State of Nevada Has Released The Tips Below for Protecting Yourself from Fraud and Identity Theft.

· Never give out personal or financial information over the phone.

· Thoroughly review all financial statements for any unusual activity. Immediately contact the company if an item looks suspicious.

· Shred or destroy credit card statements, bills, insurance papers or bank statements before throwing them out.

· Do not carry your Social Security card in your wallet.

· Be wary of anyone calling to “confirm” personal or financial information. Often, these are criminals trying to obtain those facts under the guise of “confirmation”.

· Release your Social Security Number only when absolutely necessary or when required by law.

· For services you are receiving, ask how you can remove unnecessary information or information that is not required.

· Check credit reports, banking information, medical information that may have details that need to be removed or secured. Put a freeze on your credit information when you are not actively applying for credit.

· Protect and update passwords to your online accounts regularly.

· When creating passwords and PINS, do not use anything that could be discovered easily by thieves. Use unique passwords for important accounts, like your bank and credit card providers.

· Memorize all your passwords and PINS, or use a secure password manager.

· Remove old accounts and passwords that are no longer in use.

· Use additional security measures provided for your accounts, like multi-factor authentication, wherever available.

Please contact your Client Service Director at FAL, or email us at info@falcpa.com with any questions about this topic or if you suspect fraudulent claims and need help taking appropriate action.