What to know about the surge of unemployment fraud in WA
Washington state appears to be a primary target of recent attacks on unemployment insurance system across the country. You probably won’t know if your Social Security number is being used to make a fraudulent claim, but there are ways to protect yourself and the system.
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How will I know if I'm a fraud victim if I’m not unemployed?
An ESD spokesperson said some people have discovered false claims made with their personal information after trying to apply for unemployment benefits. Others have discovered it after receiving a notice in the mail from the ESD about a claim being processed that they did not submit.
You can do your own fraud check — and potentially prevent a fraudulent claim — by proactively setting up an ESD account online.
Do this
by visiting the ESD website here
and clicking “Create new account.” When setting up your account, you’ll be asked for various personal information, including Social Security number and birth date.
Make sure you go directly to the ESD website.
Don’t click on a link in an email or on social media. Fraudsters sometimes use fake links to capture the private information that enables them to file for unemployment in someone else’s name. If you haven’t already applied for unemployment benefits, you should be able to set up the account.
If you get a notice saying that the Social Security number you entered is already in use, that could be an indication of a fraudulent claim.
What should I do if it happens to me?
You should report the issue to the ESD. You can do this
online
or over the phone (1-800-246-9763), although the
ESD currently recommends making the report online if possible
because phone lines are currently backed up from a large influx of calls.
If one of your employees has been targeted, you can submit a fraud claim as an employer on
the ESD website.
