Identity Theft is on the rise in both the private and public sector. Identity theft occurs when someone uses another person’s information to take on his or her identity. Identity theft can include misappropriation of wage and employment information, as well as credit card and mail fraud. In the case of unemployment benefits, it could mean using another person’s information such as name, Social Security Number and employment information.
Identity theft is often discovered when:
Other signs that an individual may have been affected:
Unemployment identity theft not only causes inconvenience and the temporary loss of funds, it could result in wages being garnished, tax refunds being intercepted by the state or the IRS, and much more.
Visit the Federal Trade Commission’s web site at IdentityTheft.gov for the most up-to-date information on combating identity theft. The site provides detailed advice to help you fix problems caused by identity theft along with the ability to: