DEO keeps billing me for weeks I never claimed - ID theft nightmare won't end
I'm at my wits' end dealing with this identity theft nightmare with DEO since March 2025. Someone filed for unemployment using my information, and despite having TWO separate appeal hearings with Tallahassee officials, I STILL keep getting overpayment notices for weeks I never claimed! Every hearing ends with 'We've resolved the issue, Mr. Johnson' but then boom - another bill shows up demanding $4,200 for 'fraudulent claims' I NEVER MADE. When I log into CONNECT, there's absolutely nothing showing these supposed weeks, no appeal option, no record of these claims they're billing me for. It's like fighting a ghost! I've sent 8 emails to the fraud department with zero response. Every single phone call ends with that stupid automated message about 'higher than normal call volume' before disconnecting me. I'm genuinely worried this will damage my credit or trigger wage garnishment for something I didn't do! Has anyone successfully resolved identity theft with Florida DEO? I'm desperate for actual solutions.
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Ethan Moore
This happened to me last year - it's a complete nightmare. You need to take several steps immediately: 1. File a police report specifically for unemployment fraud if you haven't already 2. Submit Form DEO-CO (Identity Theft Affidavit) - you can download it from their website 3. Contact your state representative's office - this was what finally worked for me after 6 months of getting nowhere 4. Keep detailed records of EVERY communication (dates, names, call reference numbers) The system is broken when it comes to ID theft cases. Those overpayment notices will eventually go to collections if not resolved, so don't ignore them even though you didn't claim the benefits.
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Aisha Ali
•Thank you! I did file a police report back in April but didn't know about that DEO-CO form. Will download it today. Did you have to keep appealing each individual overpayment notice or did they eventually resolve everything at once? I'm terrified about the collections threat - my credit is the only thing I have going for me right now.
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Yuki Nakamura
deo is compleatly usless!!! been there, they dont care if its id theft or not they just want there $$$$ back. i had amost the same thing happin and it took 14 MONTHS!! to fix. good luck getting thru to ANYONE on the phone they just hang up all day long
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StarSurfer
•While not completely useless, the DEO phone system definitely doesn't handle their call volume well. If you need to actually speak with an agent about identity theft or fraud, I'd recommend trying Claimyr (claimyr.com). It helped me get through after weeks of failed attempts. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj. For complex cases like identity theft, speaking directly with an adjudicator is really the only way to get it resolved, unfortunately.
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Carmen Reyes
That sucks man, sorry to hear it. The same thing happened to my brother last summer, weird coincidence.
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Aisha Ali
•Did your brother ever get it resolved? What ended up working for him?
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Andre Moreau
Identity theft cases with DEO are particularly challenging because their fraud department is completely overwhelmed right now. You need to escalate this beyond the normal channels. Here's what I recommend: 1. Request a "Determination of Identity Theft" letter - this is different from just having a hearing 2. Send a certified letter to DEO Benefit Payment Control unit specifically (not just general DEO) 3. Contact the Florida Department of Financial Services - they can sometimes intervene 4. File a complaint with the Florida Attorney General's office The key problem is that the appeals process isn't designed for ID theft cases - they're treating each claimed week as a separate issue rather than addressing the root cause. When you do get through to someone, specifically ask for a "full account fraud flag" on your SSN in the CONNECT system.
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Aisha Ali
•Thank you for this detailed response. I didn't know about requesting a specific "Determination of Identity Theft" letter - nobody in my hearings mentioned that was an option. I'll try the certified letter approach too. It's frustrating that we have to jump through so many hoops when we're the victims!
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Zoe Christodoulou
This is exactly what happened to me! The DEO is BROKEN when it comes to fraud cases. I had to get my state senator involved after 9 months of continuous billing for weeks I never claimed. The most infuriating part was that they kept telling me it was "resolved" but the bills kept coming. Here's my advice: DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. Names, dates, confirmation numbers, etc. Take screenshots of your CONNECT account showing no claimed weeks. When you finally get through to someone who can help, having this documentation is critical. Also, check if someone filed a tax return in your name too - unemployment fraud often goes hand-in-hand with tax fraud. Might be worth getting an Identity Protection PIN from the IRS for next tax season.
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Aisha Ali
•That's a great point about potential tax fraud - I hadn't even thought about that angle. I'll contact the IRS about getting an IP PIN. How did you find and contact your state senator? Was their office responsive?
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Jamal Thompson
u should file a police report!!!! thats identity theft!!! and fraud!!!!
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Ethan Moore
•OP mentioned they already filed a police report back in April. Unfortunately, that's just step one of many when dealing with unemployment identity theft. The police report is necessary documentation but doesn't actually resolve anything with DEO directly.
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StarSurfer
I went through something similar (though not exactly the same) with DEO last year. After 3 months of getting nowhere with their regular phone line, I found a service called Claimyr that actually got me through to a live person at DEO. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/UzW_hbUy-ss?si=zORd51jeq1GX5Ldj For identity theft specifically, you need to speak with someone in the fraud department, not just regular claims agents. When you do get through, ask specifically for your case to be escalated to a fraud specialist - the regular agents often don't have the authority to place proper fraud flags on accounts.
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Aisha Ali
•Thank you for the recommendation. At this point I'll try anything that might help me actually talk to a real person. Did you speak directly with someone in the fraud department using this service, or did you have to get transferred after connecting?
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Andre Moreau
Based on all your responses, it seems like you're taking the right steps now. One additional thing I'd recommend: Request a hearing specifically for "identity theft determination" rather than just appealing the overpayment notices. When you're able to speak with someone at DEO, make it clear that you're not disputing individual weeks but rather asserting that the entire claim is fraudulent. The ID theft form (DEO-CO) should be submitted with as much supporting documentation as possible: - Police report - Identity theft report from FTC (identitytheft.gov) - Signed affidavit - Any evidence showing you were employed during the claimed periods Keep us posted on your progress. Identity theft cases are unfortunately common with DEO, but they can be resolved with persistence.
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Aisha Ali
•Thank you - I'll definitely request that specific type of hearing. I'm employed full-time and have been since 2023, so I can easily prove I wasn't eligible for benefits during the periods they're claiming. I'll update this thread once I make some progress. Really appreciate everyone's help and suggestions!
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Yuki Nakamura
the DEO is such a joke lol they probly wont even look at ur case for another year hahaha.... happened to my friend and it took 2 YEARS to fix!!! florida unemployment is THE WORST in the country no contest
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Ethan Moore
•While the system is definitely flawed, this type of comment isn't particularly helpful to someone actively trying to solve their problem. There are specific steps OP can take that might resolve this much faster than 2 years, as others have pointed out.
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