Dear Friend,
Over the past two weeks, I’ve heard from residents who are concerned about identity theft after recent reports of unemployment fraud. If you believe your personal information has been compromised, rest assured: The authorities are aggressively cracking down on scammers, and with your help, we can put a stop to them.
Across the country, reports have surfaced of individuals receiving debit cards and unemployment letters despite never having applied for benefits. After an investigation into these incidents, officials uncovered a nationwide fraud scheme targeting applicants to the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program.
IDES is now working directly with individuals whose identities are being used or have possibly been stolen. The department is also working with local and federal law enforcement authorities to pursue and prosecute those committing fraud.
If you received a debit card in the mail without applying for benefits, call IDES immediately at 1-800-814-0513 to file a report. When prompted, select option 1 for claimants, then option 5 to report identity theft. You can also submit your claim through this online form. Do not activate the debit card.
When you have filed a report, the Illinois Attorney General is offering information and tips free of charge for those who think their personal and financial information may be at risk. For assistance, consult their Identity Theft Resource Guide or call the toll-free Identity Theft Hotline at 1-866-999-5630.
Victims of fraud are also encouraged to check their credit reports for possible suspicious activity and post a fraud alert. The Federal Trade Commission’s website features many helpful tips on recognizing and reporting identity theft.
My staff is available to help walk you through this process and answer any questions you may have. For assistance, please reach out to my office at (773) 286-1115 or by emailing info@senatormartwick.com, and we will do our best to assist you.
Sincerely,
Robert Martwick
State Senator | 10th District
