DEO identity verification call from Miami number - is this a scam?

OMG DON'T GIVE THEM ANY INFO!! That's 100% a scam!!! The DEO will NEVER call you asking for your full social. They already have that information in their system. They might ask you to verify the last 4 digits in some cases, but NEVER the full number. Report the number to the FTC fraud website immediately!!

You were right to hang up. The Florida DEO does occasionally make outbound calls for fact finding or to resolve claim issues, but they follow strict verification protocols. They typically will identify themselves properly, reference your specific claim, and NEVER ask for your full SSN over the phone. They might ask for the last 4 digits of your SSN or other verification, but only after they've established their legitimacy. If you're concerned about your claim status, always initiate contact through official channels yourself. Log in to your CONNECT account or call the official DEO number directly.

I get these calls all the time, nothing new... scammers know unemployment is a goldmine for identity theft. They figure people are desperate for their benefits and might just give up their info without thinking. You did the right thing by hanging up!

I had a similar experience but it actually WAS the DEO calling me about my claim that was under adjudication. The difference was they didn't immediately ask for my social. They verified who they were, gave me my claim ID number (which only DEO would know), and then asked me some questions about my claim. They only needed the last 4 of my SSN for verification after properly identifying themselves. If you're worried about missing an important call from DEO, I had a lot of success using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to actually get through to a real DEO agent. They have a system that gets you past the busy signals and connects you directly to DEO. They even have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj At least that way you're initiating the call, so you know it's legitimately DEO you're speaking with.

Just a heads up - DEO has been increasingly using phone outreach for ID verification issues since they've had such a backlog on claims. BUT they have a very specific protocol. They should be calling from their main number (not a Miami area code), they should state their name and ID number, and they should already know your claim details. If you want to be sure, you can always tell them you'll call back on the official number and ask for their extension. A real DEO employee will understand this caution.

To clarify some confusion here: DEO does make outbound calls, but they follow specific protocols. They don't have transferable extensions, but legitimate DEO employees can provide their name and ID number for verification purposes. If you receive a suspicious call: 1. Never provide your full SSN over the phone 2. Ask for the caller's name and ID number 3. Tell them you'll call back through the official channels 4. Log into your CONNECT account to check for any adjudication issues or required actions 5. Report suspicious calls to DEO's fraud department at 1-800-342-9909 Your claim won't be negatively affected if you miss a legitimate call - they'll leave a message or send a notification through CONNECT.

my sister in law worked for DEO during covid and she said they never ever call from personal numbers or cell phones. all calls come from the official call center numbers. miami number is 100% scam

If you need to get in contact with DEO to verify if they were trying to reach you, I highly recommend trying again with Claimyr. I was in the same boat - worried I was missing important calls but also concerned about scams. Once I got through to an actual DEO rep using their service, I was able to confirm my claim status and they noted on my account that I preferred communication through CONNECT only. Haven't had any suspicious calls since then.

ive been on unemployment 3 times in florida and deo has never called me once for anything ever. everything was always through connect or mail