False Unemployment Claims

False Unemployment Claims Being Filed
Posted on 04/08/2021
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The Carson City School District would like to reassure employees there has not been a data breach or leak of information within the school district. There is, however, since the start of the pandemic last year, an ongoing issue of false unemployment claims being filed among numerous employers throughout the state of Nevada and across the nation. This is not a circumstance specifically isolated to the Carson City School District. It appears no employer, business, industry or public agency has been spared.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the criminals obtain the stolen identity using a variety of techniques, including the online purchase of stolen personal identifiable information, previous data breaches, computer intrusions, cold-calling victims while using impersonation scams, email phishing schemes, physical theft of data from individuals or third parties and from public websites and social media accounts, among other methods. Additionally, many victims of identity theft related to unemployment insurance claims do not know they have been targeted until they try to file a claim for unemployment insurance benefits, receive a notification from the state unemployment insurance agency, receive an IRS Form 1099-G showing the benefits collected from unemployment insurance or get notified by their employer that a claim has been filed while the victim is still employed.

While we are concerned and continue to monitor things closely, the good news is, so far, since our Human Resources team continues to actively identify and refute these false claims, we are unaware of any negative impacts or financial hardships suffered due to these attempts. Out of all our full-time, part-time and retired staff, approximately 330 have had fraudulent unemployment claims filed against them going back to April of 2020. Of those false claims, we have not been notified of any additional fraudulent activity on those employees’ or former employees’ personal financial accounts.

Our Human Resources Department has made concerted efforts to help all impacted take the necessary steps and maintain their personal security. As false claims come in, we continue to file police reports with the Carson City Sheriff’s Office and encourage individuals to file reports with the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation as well as the FBI, who has taken over this particular investigation for the state. Employees are also given a reference number for the police report and are provided with a link to the Federal Trade Commission that offers support and help for those involved in scams.