DEO asking for license photos and account numbers through Telegram - scam or legit?

That's 100% a scam! The DEO will NEVER contact you through Telegram asking for that information. They only use the CONNECT system, official DEO emails, or phone calls from their official numbers. The real identity verification is only done through ID.me which has a secure portal. Please report that Telegram account immediately.

I got something similar on WhatsApp last month!!! They knew I had filed for unemployment too which freaked me out but I blocked them. These scammers are getting smarter

This is unfortunately very common right now. The DEO only verifies identity through ID.me, which is their official partner. If you need to verify identity or resolve issues with your claim, you'd need to: 1. Log into your CONNECT account directly (never through links sent to you) 2. Complete any pending fact-finding questions 3. Check for correspondence in your CONNECT inbox 4. If required, complete ID.me verification through the official link in your CONNECT portal If you're struggling to get your claim processed or need to speak with a DEO representative directly about identity verification or other issues, I'd recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a service that helps you get through to an actual DEO agent instead of waiting for hours or getting disconnected. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj that shows how it works. Might save you a lot of time compared to trying to reach someone on your own.

My cousin works for DEO and says theyre getting FLOODED with reports about these telegram and whatsapp scams. They target ppl with pending claims cause they know ur desperate. The real DEO is super slow but they NEVER use telegram!!

The DEO system is frustrating enough without these scammers making it WORSE!! I waited 9 weeks for my claim to process last year and almost fell for a similar scam out of desperation. The ONLY legitimate ways DEO communicates are: - Messages in your CONNECT inbox - Official emails from @deo.myflorida.com addresses - Phone calls from their call centers (but they rarely call first) - Official letters mailed to your address If anyone contacts you through social media, messaging apps, or texts claiming to be DEO - IT'S A SCAM 100% OF THE TIME. They're exploiting the fact that DEO is so hard to reach that people are desperate for help.

i get these all the time on facebook too. they see ur posts about unemployment and then message u pretending to be from deo. some even have profiles with the florida seal in their picture to look official.

If you're still having issues with your claim being stuck for 3 weeks, that's actually pretty normal unfortunately. The verification process can take 4-6 weeks sometimes. Make sure all your work searches are properly logged (5 per week) and all fact-finding questions are answered in CONNECT. Those are usually the main reasons for delays.

did u try calling them? it took me FOREVER to get thru but eventually i did and they fixed my claim in like 5 minutes. the number is 1-800-681-8102

i had same problem!!! tried for 2 WEEKS to get someone on phone!!!

Look, the DEO is a NIGHTMARE to deal with. They're deliberately making it hard to get benefits that YOU paid for through YOUR taxes. I was in adjudication for 11 weeks before I finally got someone on the phone who actually helped. These scammers know exactly what they're doing - they know the system is broken and people are desperate. BTW I finally got through by using that Claimyr service someone mentioned above. I was skeptical too but it actually worked after I wasted like 50+ hours trying to call myself. Got a callback from DEO in about 40 minutes when I had been trying for weeks. Just sharing my experience...

this happens a lot bc the real deo is so hard to contact lol. scammers know u r desperate so they pretend to help

Just to add some clarity: "Adjudication" means there's an issue with your claim that needs to be resolved by a DEO adjudicator. Common reasons include: 1. Employment separation issues (they're verifying why you're no longer employed) 2. Wage discrepancies 3. Work search requirement verification 4. Availability for work questions While waiting, make sure you continue claiming your weeks on time and completing your work searches. Missing a week can restart the whole process. And whatever you do, don't engage with anyone contacting you outside of official DEO channels.

This is such an important warning! I've seen these scams targeting unemployment claimants across multiple states. The scammers are getting really sophisticated - they often know you've filed for unemployment because they scrape public job boards and social media posts. A few red flags to watch for: - ANY contact through social media/messaging apps (Telegram, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger) - Promises to "expedite" or "fast-track" your claim - Requests for photos of documents or account numbers - Claims that you need to "verify" through their special link The only legitimate identity verification DEO uses is ID.me, which you access through your official CONNECT portal. Never click links sent via text or social media. Stay strong - I know the wait is brutal but don't let desperation make you vulnerable to these predators!