Scammers seeking unemployment benefits

Scammers are now seeking benefits being made available through pandemic unemployment assistance programs.

According to information from the Massachusetts Office of Labor and Workforce Development, scammers are filing fraudulent applications for benefits using personal data obtained from previous national data breaches.

According to the Boston Globe, one fraudulent application had accurate information that included the victim’s full name, address, cell phone number, Social Security number, date of birth and their approximate salary.

According to authorities, anyone who receives a notice about unemployment benefits they didn’t request should notify Wyoming’s unemployment office as soon as possible. The individual is also advised to file a complaint with Wyoming’s attorney general and the Federal Trade Commission.

The more information the public can provide, the easier it will be for the FTC and state agencies to track down the fraudsters and take legal action against them.