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What is UI Fraud?
UI Fraud is a crime, and it affects everyone. It drives up unemployment taxes for businesses, it affects people with legitimate unemployment benefit claims, and it puts a strain on the state’s unemployment trust fund. The person committing fraud could be a claimant who is intentionally misrepresenting information being provided to the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) when filing and/or certifying for unemployment benefits or could be a traditional fraud matter whereby a criminal is impersonating or representing themselves as a claimant for unemployment benefits. In every instance of fraud, individuals may face criminal prosecution, fines, and penalties of up to four times the amount.
"We appreciate state officials in Michigan for their ongoing efforts in combatting fraud during the administration of the CARES Act and other pandemic programs while handling the largest surge of unemployment insurance claims in history. Through our collaborative efforts, we will continue to reduce the risk of fraud and improve equitable access to these much-needed programs."
- Rose Zibert, Acting Regional Administrator at the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration.
Governor Solidifies UI Fraud Response Team
"It's extremely important that we continue to push back on bad actors who look to take advantage of a vital safety net resource for out-of-work Michiganders. While we are seeing increased success in identifying and stopping fraudulent claims, we cannot let up. We owe it to workers to make sure this jobs resource is available when they need it the most. Today's action ensures the Unemployment Insurance Fraud Response Team continues to have the expertise and tools necessary to ramp up our efforts to prevent band actors from defrauding the system." - Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Dec. 29, 2021
Michigan Fraud/Identity Theft Dashboard
Updated March 2023
115 |
42 |
35 |
individuals charged | individuals have pleaded guilty or have been convicted | individuals have been sentenced |
LATEST FRAUD NEWS AND UPDATES
March 8, 2023
Former Claims Examiner for Michigan Unemployment Agency Pleads Guilty in COVID-19 Fraud Scheme
December 5, 2022
Man Sentenced for Using Identities of Prison Inmates to File Fraudulent Unemployment Claims
July 21, 2022
Former Claims Manager for Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency Sentenced in COVID-19 Fraud Scheme
April 26, 2022
Former State Unemployment Contractor and Co-Conspirator Indicted for Stealing Unemployment Insurance Benefits
April 13, 2022
Two Sentenced for Conspiring with State Contractor in Multi-million Dollar Unemployment Fraud
March 30, 2022
Detroit Man Sentenced on Charges Related to Theft of $1.6M in Unemployment Insurance Benefits from Nine States
January 20, 2022
Three Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing Unemployment Insurance Benefits
How to Report Fraud or Identity Theft
If you think someone is committing unemployment benefit or payroll tax fraud, or If you suspect that identity thieves have used your personal information to file a false UI claim, report it immediately.
Submit the information online at Michigan.gov/uia. Click the Report Fraud or Identity Theft link. Please include as much information as you can such as:
- Who is committing the fraud?
- What type of fraud (against employees or employer)?
- What are they doing that you believe constitutes fraud?
- When did the fraud occur and is it still happening?