Wife Just Received Letter - Her VA Unemployment is On the Way

[asphaltgambler]

This evening my wife opens her mail, 3 separate letters from the VA Employment Commission, her benefits are approved for $×××.00 / week. Letters are real deal, she calls - they confirm this. Then she said she's never filed, she's been employed with same firm for 14+ years. Silence briefly on other end. Now a fraud investigation is ensuing.

Question is how did someone get all that information? The only thing we've done is have H&R block do our taxes. I did an in-person meeting. Nothing on our end over the web.

One letter listed both employers, all information. Her practice was bought-out late last year so our taxes show 2 different firms, but same joint.

Next thing is whoever did this, did it from an electronic device and would have to provide valid bank account and routing number for the gob'mt check to go to, UFB....

[tdw28210]

The fraudster may have intercepted your snail mail with some of the information. It's happening a lot more these days.

[wilnj]

Had the same thing happen last year.

Unemployment benefits applied for in both NYS (2X) and NJ (I worked in both during 2020)

Never lost a days pay. Reported both to the relevant jurisdictions and never heard another thing.

In both instances, I also received a debit card to access the funds.

The thing is, I don’t get any mail that references my work in NYS so intercepting snail mail wouldn’t do it.

I believe it was a breech of state databases and nothing is being said. They shut down the fraudulent accounts when they’re discovered/reported and write off any losses.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[GH85Carrera]

My neighbor across the street had it happen to him. He is a lawyer at the state AG office. He works in the office that investigates that. He talked to an guy in his own office about it.

[Noah930]

My employer/boss said someone filed an unemployment claim on his behalf last fall. He found out when he got an unemployment check at home. That came up in conversation because someone filed a COVID small business loan under my name at the same time.

When I went to file my taxes in March, Turbo Tax informed me someone else tried to do so for me less than two weeks earlier. My previous tax returns were done by a CPA.

[Baz]

My Dad worked as an employment counselor for the Virginia Employment Commission when he retired from the Navy in '59 until his death in '68. He worked at the Norfolk office on Granby Street.

I remember some of the stories he shared at the dinner table about helping folks get work - something I've always appreciated that he was a part of - in this - his second chapter of life.

He told me once that becoming a pharmacist would be a good career for me - and that one day I could even own my own drug store.

Sorry for the slight thread drift - just memories.....I really loved my Dad.

[asphaltgambler]

Great story Baz

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

This evening my wife opens her mail, 3 separate letters from the VA Employment Commission, her benefits are approved for $×××.00 / week. Letters are real deal, she calls - they confirm this. Then she said she's never filed, she's been employed with same firm for 14+ years. Silence briefly on other end. Now a fraud investigation is ensuing.

Question is how did someone get all that information? The only thing we've done is have H&R block do our taxes. I did an in-person meeting. Nothing on our end over the web.

One letter listed both employers, all information. Her practice was bought-out late last year so our taxes show 2 different firms, but same joint.

Next thing is whoever did this, did it from an electronic device and would have to provide valid bank account and routing number for the gob'mt check to go to, UFB....

I had the same thing happen in 2020. Someone applied for unemployment benefits in Ohio. I have never, ever, worked in Ohio. The only indication was an EBT card showed up in the mail from an obscure bank. I'm glad I called instead of shredding the letter and card, since I originally thought it was some sort of credit card ad.

We closed the account and then they told me it for Ohio unemployment benefits. I thought it was from Texas. Nope. Ohio. I called up the Ohio unemployment agency and started a fraud investigation. They were all set to send CASH to a specified account. The EBT card was not the account.

What I don't understand, how can someone apply for Ohio benefits with a Texas mailing address and no Ohio employment records?

[asphaltgambler]

I just got off the phone with our local H&R Block, apparently I'm not the first to call them about this. My reasoning is the employer details were so specific with my wife, because she had 2-W2's it would difficult to obtain that.

Looks like it's on the state side / database. Interesting thing is she did apply and receive briefly, unemployment benefits @2 years ago during the Pandemic when her office temporarily shuttered their doors.

[flatbutt]

Just to be safe you may want to check with your central P.O. to see if someone had files a change of address on you. Just in case. Plus if her info is out there regardless of how it happened you might check with the credit bureaus.

It's interesting that the notice found it's way to her none the l ess.

[nota]

Originally Posted by red-beard

I had the same thing happen in 2020. Someone applied for unemployment benefits in Ohio. I have never, ever, worked in Ohio. The only indication was an EBT card showed up in the mail from an obscure bank. I'm glad I called instead of shredding the letter and card, since I originally thought it was some sort of credit card ad.

We closed the account and then they told me it for Ohio unemployment benefits. I thought it was from Texas. Nope. Ohio. I called up the Ohio unemployment agency and started a fraud investigation. They were all set to send CASH to a specified account. The EBT card was not the account.

What I don't understand, how can someone apply for Ohio benefits with a Texas mailing address and no Ohio employment records?

lots of people move after unemployment my kid returned to fla from Az and funds followed
I guess they faked the job records or the state never checked in the rush

[wilnj]

So it just happened again. Got the letter yesterday letting me know that my debit card is on it's way.

Waiting on a return call from the state.

[asphaltgambler]

We discovered the breach is at the state level......................

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

We discovered the breach is at the state level......................

Always a warm fuzzy feeling knowing the government has such poor security with you social security number, name, address and W2s so that it is easy to steal your identity.

We are all REQUIRED to use our SS # to file taxes of course to be sure the taxes are paid. And we have to give our SS# to the bank or credit unions we use, and our employer. NO one else gets mine. I have doctor's offices ask, and I just leave it blank. If they insist, it is 555 55 5555.

It is inexcusable for a state entity to have a security breach of personal information.

[pwd72s]

Fox news has been reporting that $ Billions have been stolen via fraudulent Covid unemployment claims.

[asphaltgambler]

Yes, she briefly filled for unemployment during COVID, so that makes sense……

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

Yes, she briefly filled for unemployment during COVID, so that makes sense……

Sounds like a state employee, maybe more than one, has figured out a scam...

[Tobra]

That is all small potatoes compared to the fraud over the last 2 years in California.

You pretty much have to have your credit locked down unless you are in the process of buying something.

[KFC911]

Everyone SHOULD assume that their info has been compromised... and have their credit frozen at all three agencies. Mine has been for two decades... jmho.

[Deschodt]

People files taxes for me, same deal. Freeze your ID on the 3 major credit check agency sites to start with, it's free.. may wanna ask IRS for a special PIn too, also easy.