Got a sketchy NY unemployment email from DocuSign asking for SSN - is this legit?
I received an email yesterday from DocuSign claiming to be from New York Unemployment. It's asking me to verify my identity by entering my social security number and other personal info through some online form. The email looks kinda official with unemployment logos and everything, but something feels off about it. I already filed my claim about 3 weeks ago and thought everything was processed correctly. Now I'm worried if I don't fill this out, my benefits might be delayed, but I'm super hesitant to put my SSN into any random form. Has anyone else gotten these DocuSign emails from NY unemployment? Are they legitimate or is this some kind of phishing scam?
48 comments


Natasha Orlova
YES! I got the same thing last week! I called ny unemployment like 50 times trying to verify if its real but couldn't get through to anyone. Finally I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual agent and they confirmed it was legit. Apparently they're using DocuSign for identity verification now because of all the fraud happening. Talking to an agent got my benefits processed within 2 days - best decision I made after weeks of stress! Check out this video that explains how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE
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Javier Cruz
•Wait is this for real? I've been trying to get through to someone for days. How does this work?
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Natasha Orlova
•Yeah its real. They basically call NY unemployment for you and stay on hold, then when an agent picks up they connect you. Saved me HOURS of hold music torture. My issue was resolved in one call!
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Emma Wilson
•sounds like another scam to me... 🤔
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Natasha Orlova
•Not a scam at all. I was skeptical too but they don't ask for any personal info - they just connect the call. After 3 weeks of getting nowhere on my own, I was desperate and it actually worked.
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Malik Thomas
•wait hold up - does this actually work or is it just the usual BS? I've been trying to reach someone at ny unemployment for 2 weeks now
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Natasha Orlova
•It worked for me and several people in my office who got laid off. They just call for you and connect you when a human picks up. Beats calling 100 times a day!
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NeonNebula
DON'T DO IT!!!!! I got the same email last month and it was 100% a scam. NY unemployment doesn't use DocuSign for collecting SSNs. They already have that info from when you first applied. This is identity theft attempting to happen.
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Oliver Schulz
•Oh shit seriously? Did you report it somewhere? I almost filled it out yesterday but something didn't feel right.
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NeonNebula
•Yeah I reported it to both NYSDOL fraud department and the FTC. Scammers are getting super sophisticated with these unemployment scams. Always login to your account directly through the official website to check for messages - never click email links.
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Isabella Costa
•How can u tell the difference between real ones and fake? My wife got one that looked super official and she almost submitted all her info 😮
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NeonNebula
•Look at the sender email address carefully - often it's slightly off from the official domain. Also, hover over any links without clicking to see the URL. Legit communications usually ask you to log into your account directly rather than submitting info through email.
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Ravi Malhotra
This is a well-known phishing scam. I work in IT and we've seen a massive increase in unemployment related scams since the pandemic. The real NY unemployment department will NEVER ask for your full SSN through email or DocuSign. If they need to verify your identity, they'll ask you to log into your account on their official website or call their official number.
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Freya Christensen
I had the same thing happen but mine was actually legit! NY unemployment is using DocuSign for some identity verification now, BUT you should never click on links from emails. Instead, go directly to the unemployment website, login to your account, and check if there are any action items or messages in your secure inbox. If the DocuSign request is real, it will be mentioned there too.
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Omar Farouk
•This is the right answer. They ARE using DocuSign for some stuff now but you should ALWAYS go through the official site first.
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Chloe Davis
•how do you know yours was legit? did u fill it out?
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Freya Christensen
•I called unemployment first (which took forever) and confirmed it was legit. The request was also in my online account messages. But I still went through the official site rather than clicking email links.
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AstroAlpha
Here's what you need to know about NY unemployment communications and verification processes: First, NEVER provide your SSN through email links. The department already has this information from your initial claim. Legitimate communications from NYSDOL will: - Appear in your online account message center - Direct you to log in through the official website (labor.ny.gov) - Never ask for your full SSN through email If you're unsure about any communication: 1. Log in to your account directly through the official website 2. Check your message inbox for any verification requests 3. Call to verify (though this is extremely difficult) For anyone struggling to reach an agent, the service at claimyr.com has helped many people get through the phone system. They'll wait on hold and connect you when an agent answers. Report suspected fraud to NYSDOL at labor.ny.gov/report-fraud and the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Stay vigilant - unemployment fraud has increased over 3000% since 2020!
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Diego Chavez
•This is super helpful, thank you! I had no idea about the message center on the website.
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Anastasia Smirnova
•I used that claimyr service after being on hold for 4 hrs and it worked! Actually talked to someone and got my issue fixed.
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Sean O'Brien
Calling the unemployment office is a nightmare but its the only way to know for sure. I tried for a week straight before I got through. They verified the DocuSign was NOT from them and put a fraud alert on my account.
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Zara Shah
•How many times did you have to call before getting through? I'm on day 4 of trying 😫
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Sean O'Brien
•Probably called 40-50 times over 5 days. Best time is right when they open in the morning.
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Luca Bianchi
•I tried using claimyr.com and got through on the first try. Saved me days of headache.
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GalacticGuardian
They are using docusign for some stuff but the email should come from a .gov email address. Check the sender carefully! Also check your online account - any legit requests will show up there too.
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Nia Harris
HUGE RED FLAG!!! NY unemployment already has your SSN on file from when you applied. They would never email you asking for it again. This is 10000% a scam.
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Mateo Gonzalez
•^^^ This. Report it immediately. So many scammers targeting unemployment claimants right now.
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Aisha Ali
omg I got this too and I DID fill it out 😩 What should I do now? Will they steal my identity?
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Ethan Moore
•Put a freeze on your credit reports ASAP! Go to Experian, TransUnion and Equifax websites and request credit freezes. Then file reports with FTC and NYSDOL fraud department.
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Aisha Ali
•Just froze all three credit bureaus. Thank you!! I'm freaking out right now
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Yuki Nakamura
•Also change ALL your passwords, especially email and banking. And set up credit monitoring if you can.
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StarSurfer
i swear the ny unemployment system is designed to be as confusing as possible so scammers can take advantage. its literally impossible to know whats legit and whats not when their actual communications are so inconsistent 🤬
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Carmen Reyes
This happened to my cousin last month. He called (took forever to get through) and they said it was a scam. Apparently there's a massive fraud ring targeting unemployment systems nationally right now.
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Andre Moreau
Go to the official NY unemployment website (labor.ny.gov), log in, and check your messages. If it's a legitimate request, it will show up there too. Never trust emails alone!
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Oliver Schulz
•I did that and there's nothing in my messages about needing to submit verification through DocuSign. Definitely a scam then. Thanks!
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Zoe Christodoulou
Forward the email to phishing@labor.ny.gov so they can investigate. They've been really good about responding to these reports.
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Jamal Thompson
I'm sorry but anyone who gives their SSN through an email link deserves what happens next 🤡 The govt already has your SSN - why would they ask again???
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Mei Chen
•Not everyone is tech savvy dude. My mom almost fell for this because she's desperate for her benefits. Don't be a jerk.
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Jamal Thompson
•your right, that was harsh. sorry bout that. scammers are the real villains here.
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CosmicCadet
Check the email header carefully. Legit emails from NY unemployment come from @labor.ny.gov domains. Anything else is suspicious. And like others said, they'll never ask for your full SSN via email.
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Liam O'Connor
The new york unemployment system is such a mess that even when they send real communications, people think they're scams 😂 But in this case, it does sound like a scam based on what others are saying.
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Amara Adeyemi
you shud report this to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov - they're tracking these unemployment scams and can help shut them down faster if more people report
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Anastasia Sokolov
I went through something similar last month and it was definitely a scam. Here's what I learned: NY unemployment will NEVER ask you to re-submit your SSN through email - they already have it from your original application. The real test is to log into your official unemployment account at labor.ny.gov and check your secure message inbox. If there's no corresponding message there about identity verification, then the email is 100% fake. I reported mine to both the NYSDOL fraud department and the FTC. The scammers are getting really sophisticated with fake logos and official-looking formatting, but the dead giveaway is always asking for SSN info you already provided. Trust your gut - if something feels off, it probably is!
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Luca Ferrari
•This is exactly what I needed to hear! I just checked my official account and there's nothing about DocuSign verification in my messages. Definitely confirms this was a scam attempt. Thanks for sharing your experience - it's crazy how realistic these fake emails look now. I'm going to report it to both places you mentioned. Really appreciate everyone's help here!
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Samantha Howard
I work for a cybersecurity firm and we've been tracking this exact scam for months. These fraudulent DocuSign emails are part of a massive identity theft operation targeting unemployment claimants nationwide. The scammers use legitimate-looking templates with official logos, but there are always telltale signs: 1. Check the sender's email domain carefully - real NY unemployment emails come from @labor.ny.gov addresses 2. Hover over any links (don't click!) to see where they actually lead 3. Look for subtle spelling/grammar errors in the email body 4. Most importantly: NY unemployment already has your SSN from your initial application - they would NEVER ask for it again via email If you received this email: - DO NOT click any links or provide any information - Log into your official account at labor.ny.gov to check for legitimate messages - Report it to phishing@labor.ny.gov and reportfraud.ftc.gov - Consider placing a fraud alert on your credit reports as a precaution We've seen victims lose thousands of dollars and have their identities stolen through these schemes. When in doubt, always go directly to the official website or call the unemployment office to verify - never trust email communications asking for sensitive personal information.
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Lauren Wood
•This is incredibly helpful information, thank you! I'm shocked at how sophisticated these scams have become. I received a similar email last week and almost fell for it because it looked so legitimate with all the official logos and formatting. Your cybersecurity perspective really puts this into context - I had no idea this was part of such a large operation. I just checked the sender domain on my email and it was definitely NOT from @labor.ny.gov like you mentioned. Going to report this immediately to both places you suggested. It's scary to think how many people might be falling victim to this!
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Cynthia Love
I just want to echo what others have said - this is 100% a scam. I'm a fraud investigator and we're seeing these fake DocuSign unemployment emails everywhere right now. The scammers are specifically targeting people who are already stressed about their benefits, knowing they're more likely to act quickly without thinking it through. Here's the key thing to remember: legitimate government agencies will NEVER ask you to re-verify information you already provided during your initial application. NY unemployment already has your SSN, address, employment history - everything they need. The best protection is to never click links in emails claiming to be from government agencies. Always go directly to the official website (labor.ny.gov for NY unemployment) and log into your account there. If there's a legitimate issue requiring your attention, it will show up in your secure message center. For anyone who might have already submitted information through one of these fake forms, act fast: freeze your credit with all three bureaus (it's free), change your passwords, monitor your accounts closely, and file reports with both the FTC and NYSDOL fraud department. The sooner you act, the better you can protect yourself from further damage. Stay safe everyone - these scammers are ruthless and they're not going away anytime soon.
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Oliver Becker
•Thank you so much for this expert perspective! As someone new to dealing with unemployment claims, I really appreciate hearing from a fraud investigator. Your point about scammers targeting stressed people makes perfect sense - I was definitely in that mindset when I first got the email. The fact that they're exploiting people who are already struggling financially is just disgusting. I'm going to bookmark your advice about always going directly to the official website instead of clicking email links. This whole thread has been eye-opening about how sophisticated these scams have become. Really glad I found this community before making a costly mistake!
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