UIA warns of phone scam promising unpaid benefits for a fee

Be cautious and report random calls that claim to be from state agency

The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) today alerted residents to be aware of scam calls trying to get you to pay a fee to retrieve money owed to you by the unemployment agency. Anyone who receives such a call should hang up right away and report it to the UIA.

The fake calls have raised suspicions in Michigan and other states. One Michigander alerted UIA they had received a call from the 313 area code claiming to be a human resources manager from the UIA and even providing an employee number. The caller went on to say the agency owed the resident about $4,000, but they had to pay a $105 fee to receive the funds.

The UIA does not charge a fee to release unemployment benefits to anyone who qualifies for payments. There is also no cost to apply for benefits.

“There is no end to the ways criminals prey on people to try to steal their money. You should be cautious if you are contacted randomly by someone who says they are from the UIA and offering you money,” said Jason Palmer, director of the Michigan UIA. “There are two secure ways an individual receives the benefits they are entitled to: posted to a debit card from U.S. Bank, a nationally known, reputable institution, or by direct deposit into your own bank account. You will never be asked by the UIA to pay a fee to access the money you were approved to receive.”

A phone scam similar to the one in Michigan was reported to states by the Unemployment Insurance Integrity Center, which is part of the U.S. Department of Labor. The center said an artificial intelligence-driven fraudulent call operation targeted North Dakota residents saying $4,000 in unclaimed unemployment insurance benefits was available. The caller then would try to collect personally identifiable information from the targeted victim.

Anyone who receives a call, text, or email purporting to be from the UIA should call the agency’s Customer Service hotline at 1-866-500-0017 right away to verify whether the call is legitimate. If you have an active or previous claim, Customer Service staff can review and verify your claim’s current standing. The UIA corresponds with anyone receiving unemployment benefits through their secure Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) account or by regular mail.

Here are five things to do to avoid being the victim of a scam:

1. Do not click on links in random emails that appear to be from the UIA asking you for a username and log-in.
2. Verify with the UIA if you receive an email or phone call that purports to be from the agency.
3. The UIA never randomly texts claimants or employers. Do not respond to random texts claiming to be from the agency and asking for information or providing a link to click. Delete the text and report it as spam.
4. Do not share any personal information if you receive a random call claiming to be from the UIA.
5. Stay up to date with your MiWAM account by monitoring correspondence or requests for information from the UIA.

Report unemployment fraud by clicking on the Report Fraud or Identity Theft link on the Michigan.gov/UIA homepage.

Solutions for Michigan workers, employers

The UIA provides a variety of resources for those looking to file for unemployment or who may already be receiving benefits:

• A website explaining recent changes in Michigan unemployment law, including the increase in the number of required weekly work search activities and a provision that allows domestic violence victims who quit their job to receive benefits if they also meet other eligibility requirements. Find out more at Michigan.gov/UIALawChanges.
• The UIA Claimant Roadmap. An easy-to-follow six-step guide to applying for and understanding benefits. Find it at Michigan.gov/UIAClaimantRoadmap.
• Chatbot at Michigan.gov/UIA. Powered by artificial intelligence, it provides quick and accurate answers to general unemployment questions. Access the chatbot using either a desktop or mobile device.
• Online Coaching Sessions. Led by staff from the UIA on topics such as filing a first-time claim, understanding a Monetary Determination letter, and the protest and appeals process. The First-time Filer Coaching Session is also available in Spanish.
• The Advocacy Program. Free legal help for workers and employers who have filed appeals of UIA redeterminations.
• A new, modern user platform. MiUI will be easy to use, speed claims processing, and build on the agency’s aggressive anti-fraud tactics. It will replace the decade-old MiWAM computer system used by workers to apply for benefits and employers to pay unemployment insurance taxes. For information, see Michigan.gov/MiUIUniversity.
• Performance Dashboards. Interactive displays provide a deep dive into underlying data and trends in unemployment insurance in Michigan as well as core metrics that measure the UIA’s success.
• UIA Modernization Workgroup. A coalition of thought leaders from the labor, business, and jobless advocate communities that provides insight into how the agency can better serve Michigan’s workers and employers.
• Employer Help Center. This plain language guide answers employers’ questions about unemployment tax, claim issues, and UIA programs. The Help Center can be found at Michigan.gov/UIAEmployerHelpCenter.

Need help with a claim or have questions about unemployment?

Ask online: UIA’s chatbot at Michigan.gov/UIA can answer many questions.

Search online: FAQs, videos, toolkits, and other resources at Michigan.gov/UIA.

Chat with us: Available through MiWAM Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Meet with us: Schedule an in-person, phone, or virtual meeting at Michigan.gov/UIA.