Identity theft alert - someone filed EDD claim using my SSN while I'm still employed
Freaking out right now. Just got a notice from my current employer that someone filed an unemployment claim under my name claiming 'lack of work' - but I'm still EMPLOYED there! I've never even applied for benefits! Called the EDD fraud line twice and left detailed messages with my contact info but no response after 3 days. Also submitted the fraud form on their website yesterday. I'm worried about my credit and tax implications. Who else should I contact about this identity theft? Police report? Credit bureaus? Has anyone dealt with this nightmare before and can share what steps actually worked?
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Javier Mendoza
This happened to me last year and it's definitely identity theft. Here's what you need to do immediately: 1. File a police report - many departments let you do this online now 2. Contact all 3 credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) to place a fraud alert 3. Create an account with the IRS to prevent tax fraud: https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams 4. Document EVERYTHING - save all communications with EDD, your employer, etc. 5. Follow up with EDD fraud department weekly - they're overwhelmed but persistence helps Oh, and watch your bank accounts carefully. The thief may have more of your personal info.
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AstroAdventurer
•Thank you so much for this detailed response! Quick question - when you filed the police report, did they actually investigate or just give you a case number? And did EDD ever contact you back or did you have to keep calling them?
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Emma Wilson
omg this is my worst nightmare!!! i got a letter from edd last month but it wasnt about fraud just regular benefits stuff. now im paranoid someone stole my identity too. did u notice anything weird with ur mail or emails before this happened??
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AstroAdventurer
•Nothing unusual with my mail that I noticed. The first sign was my HR department contacting me about the claim. I should probably check my credit report though to see if anything else looks suspicious.
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Malik Davis
You need to contact the FTC and file an identity theft report immediately at identitytheft.gov - they'll give you a personalized recovery plan. Also call EDD at their main line (not just the fraud line) and ask for their Identity Verification department. They can flag your SSN in their system. I work with people dealing with this issue frequently. Don't wait for EDD to call you back - they're overwhelmed with fraud cases. Be proactive and document everything.
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Isabella Santos
•Is the identify verification department different than the fraud department? I thought they were the same thing
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Malik Davis
•Yes, they're different departments. The fraud department investigates claims reported as fraud, while Identity Verification specifically handles verification of identities for legitimate claims and can place flags on accounts that have been compromised. It's an important distinction when navigating the EDD system.
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Ravi Gupta
I've been dealing with the exact same situation for MONTHS!!! Filed all the reports with EDD, FTC, police, credit bureaus - NOTHING HAPPENED. My tax forms showed I collected $22,500 in benefits I never received!!! The IRS is now after ME to pay taxes on money I never got!! The only way I finally got through to someone who could actually help was using Claimyr to reach a real EDD agent. It connected me in about 20 minutes when I'd been trying for weeks. Their video shows how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The agent I spoke with immediately flagged my account as fraudulent and started the process to correct my tax forms. Worth every penny after months of stress!
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AstroAdventurer
•That's terrifying about the tax forms! I hadn't even thought about that aspect. I'll check out that Claimyr service - at this point I just need to speak to an actual human at EDD. Thanks for sharing your experience.
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GalacticGuru
my cousin had this happen but with his old job not current one. it took like 6 months to fix everything so start early. the annoying part is u have to keep calling them they never call u back lol
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Freya Pedersen
•This is why the EDD system needs a complete overhaul. The fact that it takes 6+ months to resolve clear identity theft is ridiculous. During the pandemic, California lost BILLIONS to fraud while legitimate claimants struggled to get benefits. And now innocent people are dealing with tax headaches and credit problems because EDD can't get their act together. Absolute disaster of a system.
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Emma Wilson
did u check ur credit report yet??? u get free ones every year from the 3 companies
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AstroAdventurer
•Just checked all three reports through annualcreditreport.com - thankfully no other suspicious activity so far. Placed fraud alerts on all three to be safe. Thanks for the reminder!
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Javier Mendoza
One more important thing - if you haven't already, inform your employer's HR department that you did NOT file the claim and are working with authorities on the fraud case. They need to respond to EDD's request for information by stating the claim appears fraudulent. This helps create a paper trail showing you're actively addressing the situation.
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AstroAdventurer
•Yes, I did tell my HR director immediately. She said they'd respond to EDD noting that I'm still employed and that the claim appears fraudulent. She actually seemed familiar with the process, which was somewhat reassuring (but also concerning that this happens so often).
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Isabella Santos
This happend to my mom and she got a letter from Edd with someone elses name but her address!!! So weird. Did you check your mail carefully before this? Maybe there were signs
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Omar Fawaz
•That's different though. Your mom got mail with someone else's name. The OP is saying someone used THEIR name and SSN to file a claim. That's actually identity theft not just a mail mix-up.
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Freya Pedersen
It's absolutely criminal how poorly EDD handles these situations. I've been helping my brother with the exact same issue for FOUR MONTHS. Filed police reports, FTC reports, EDD fraud reports... nothing happens. Meanwhile, some scammer collected thousands in benefits using his info while he continued working. The system is BROKEN. EDD has no incentive to fix these problems quickly because they face zero consequences. The burden falls entirely on innocent victims like you. Document everything, stay persistent, and be prepared for a long battle. And definitely follow the advice about using Claimyr to reach a real person - it's the only reliable way to get through their phone system.
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AstroAdventurer
•Four months?! That's so discouraging. Did your brother ever get resolution with his tax forms? That's my biggest worry now - getting hit with taxes for benefits I never received.
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Freya Pedersen
•Yes, he finally got it resolved after requesting a corrected 1099-G from EDD. But he had to speak with three different agents before finding one who knew the proper procedure. Keep detailed records of every conversation - names, ID numbers, dates, promised actions. The bureaucracy is mind-numbing.
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Malik Davis
Update after reading all responses: Since you've already filed the fraud report with EDD and contacted credit bureaus, your next steps should be: 1. File the FTC report at identitytheft.gov (this is federally required for identity theft) 2. Contact the IRS Identity Protection Unit at 800-908-4490 3. Begin checking your mail carefully for any 1099-G tax forms from EDD 4. Use Claimyr or similar service to reach a live EDD agent to flag your account 5. Set up account notifications for any financial accounts you have Identity theft recovery is unfortunately a marathon, not a sprint. The sooner you implement protective measures, the better.
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AstroAdventurer
•Thank you for this concise action plan. I'll do the FTC report today and call the IRS tomorrow. Can't believe I have to deal with all this when I did nothing wrong! Really appreciate everyone's advice and support here.
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