Received EDD BofA card years after repaying overpayment - how to return it?

This actually happens more often than you'd think. You should contact Bank of America EDD customer service directly at 1-866-692-9374. Tell them you received a card that you didn't request. They'll be able to see if there's an actual balance on the card and can deactivate it if needed. Then definitely call EDD to report this - you want it documented that you reported this issue in case of identity theft.

just destroy the card lol. if u already paid everything back they prob just sent u a replacement card or somethin by mistake. happens all the time with these govt agencies they dont know what theyre doing half the time

I had the EXACT same thing happen last month. Got a card out of nowhere when I hadn't filed anything. Turns out someone had used my info to file a fraudulent claim. DEFINITELY call EDD and report it. The wait times are insane though. I was on hold for over 2 hours and got disconnected TWICE! I finally used this service called Claimyr that got me through to an EDD agent in about 20 minutes. Totally worth it because they basically call EDD for you and hold your place in line, then call you back when they get through to an agent. You can see how it works at claimyr.com and they have a video demo: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km The EDD agent was able to flag my account for fraud investigation and put a hold on any payments. You really need to talk to a human about this ASAP.

THE EDD SYSTEM IS SO BROKEN!!!!! I swear they just send these cards out randomly. Last year they sent my neighbor a card even though he NEVER APPLIED. Then they had the nerve to say HE committed fraud!!! Took him MONTHS to clear his name. The whole system needs to be shut down and rebuilt from scratch. These idiots can't even keep track of who they're sending money to!!!!!

Here's what you need to do in this exact order: 1. DO NOT activate the card 2. Call Bank of America EDD customer service (1-866-692-9374) to report the card was received without filing a claim 3. Ask them to check if there's a balance/activity and to flag the account 4. Contact EDD's fraud department directly at 1-800-229-6297 or file a fraud report online at https://edd.ca.gov/en/fraud 5. Consider placing a fraud alert on your credit reports 6. Keep documentation of all communications This is almost certainly identity theft. There's been a significant increase in unemployment fraud since 2020, and fraudsters often test accounts with previous claim history. Don't ignore this - identity theft can impact your ability to claim legitimate benefits in the future.

i just wanna say this happened to my cousin too but it turned out he actually did qualify for some backpay from his original claim that he didn't know about. might not be fraud, might actually be money owed to you from that old claim? worth checking before you panic

UPDATE: I wanted to thank everyone for the advice. I called BofA EDD and they confirmed someone had filed a fraudulent claim using my information! They've deactivated the card and I'm going through the process of reporting this to EDD and placing a fraud alert with credit bureaus. Special thanks to whoever recommended Claimyr - it really did help me get through to a real person at EDD quickly. The agent said this has been happening a lot lately.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! It's really frustrating how common identity theft has become with unemployment benefits. I'm glad you were able to get it sorted out quickly by following the advice here. For anyone else reading this thread who might face a similar situation, it's worth noting that you should also check your EDD online account (if you have one) to see if there are any claims filed that you didn't submit. Sometimes fraudsters will file claims but the victims don't realize it until they get a card or notice in the mail. Also, definitely keep all the documentation from this process - case numbers, reference numbers, etc. You might need them later if any issues come up. Thanks for updating us on how it turned out!

This is such an important thread for people to see! Identity theft with unemployment benefits has unfortunately become really common. I went through something similar last year and wanted to add a few things that might help others: 1. If you discover fraudulent claims were filed, make sure to ask EDD for a copy of the fraudulent application - sometimes you can see what information the scammer had access to, which helps you figure out where the breach might have come from. 2. The EDD fraud department will give you a case number - write it down and keep it safe! You'll need it for follow-up calls and it helps speed up the process. 3. Consider freezing your credit reports (not just placing fraud alerts) - it's free and provides better protection since fraudsters often use stolen info for multiple types of fraud. 4. Check your Social Security Administration account online too - sometimes fraudsters will try to redirect benefits there as well. Thanks for sharing your experience and keeping us updated! It really helps the community when people follow up with how things turned out.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I work in cybersecurity and unfortunately see this type of unemployment fraud regularly. Just wanted to emphasize a few key points for anyone else who might encounter this: The fact that you had a previous claim makes you a higher target - fraudsters often look for people with existing EDD history because the system is more likely to approve claims from "known" SSNs. This is exactly why it's crucial to report these incidents immediately. Also, when you call EDD about fraud, ask them to put a "high risk" flag on your account. This adds extra verification steps if anyone tries to file future claims. And definitely save all your documentation from this process - I've seen cases where people needed to prove they reported fraud months or even years later. One more tip: consider signing up for the EDD online account if you don't already have one, even if you're not currently unemployed. This way you can monitor for any unauthorized activity and you'll be notified if someone tries to file claims using your information. Thanks for sharing your experience and helping others navigate this frustrating situation!

I'm really glad you were able to get this resolved quickly! This thread is such a perfect example of why community support is so valuable - you got expert advice from multiple people who had dealt with similar situations. One thing I wanted to add for future readers: if you do end up needing legitimate unemployment benefits down the road, having this fraud incident properly documented and resolved will actually work in your favor. EDD will have a record that you proactively reported fraudulent activity, which shows you're not trying to game the system. Also, for anyone who might be hesitant about using services like Claimyr that charge a fee - sometimes it really is worth it when you're dealing with potential identity theft. The cost of a few hours of professional help can save you weeks or months of headaches trying to clear up fraud on your own. Thanks for keeping us updated throughout the process. It's really helpful to see how these situations actually get resolved rather than just hearing about the initial problem!

This thread is incredibly informative! As someone new to this community, I'm both grateful for all the detailed advice shared here and honestly a bit alarmed at how common this unemployment fraud seems to be. The step-by-step guidance from everyone, especially the cybersecurity insights and practical tips about documentation, makes this feel like a comprehensive guide that could help so many people. It's reassuring to see how quickly you were able to resolve this situation by following the community's advice. The fact that multiple people had similar experiences really highlights how important it is to have these discussions openly. I'm definitely going to bookmark this thread and share it with friends/family - unfortunately, it seems like something many of us might need to deal with at some point. Thanks to everyone who contributed their knowledge and experiences. This is exactly the kind of community support that makes a real difference when people are dealing with stressful situations like identity theft!

This has been such an incredibly helpful thread to read through as someone new to navigating EDD issues. The progression from the initial panic of receiving an unexpected card to the systematic resolution really shows how important it is to act quickly and get the right guidance. I'm particularly impressed by how this community came together with both practical advice and personal experiences to help solve what could have been a much more complicated situation. The cybersecurity insights about why people with previous claims are targeted more frequently really opened my eyes - I never would have considered that angle. And seeing multiple people confirm they've dealt with similar fraud attempts makes it clear this isn't just an isolated incident but part of a larger pattern we all need to be aware of. I'm definitely going to follow the proactive steps mentioned here - creating an EDD online account, considering a credit freeze, and bookmarking all those phone numbers and resources. It's unfortunate that we have to be so vigilant, but threads like this make it much easier to know exactly what to do if something similar happens. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise!