How to check if someone filed unemployment under my name - NYS Department of Labor identity theft concern

This is unfortunately becoming more common - unemployment fraud using stolen identities. First, don't panic, but do act quickly. You need to contact NYS Department of Labor immediately to report this as fraud. Call their fraud hotline and also file a report online. They'll put a hold on the fraudulent claim and investigate. You should also check your credit reports and consider placing a fraud alert.

You need to contact NYS Department of Labor fraud division immediately. Call their fraud hotline at 1-888-598-2077 or file a report online through their fraud reporting system. They can check if there's an active claim under your SSN and freeze it if it's fraudulent. Also request a copy of your UI wage record to see what employers are listed.

Same thing happened to my coworker last year. Someone filed under her SSN and she only found out when her employer got a notice about her 'unemployment claim.' You need to act fast because if benefits are being paid out fraudulently, it can mess up your tax situation too. Create an account on my.ny.gov immediately so you can monitor what's happening with your SSN.

This happened to my sister last year! Someone filed unemployment in her name and she started getting debit cards in the mail. NYS Department of Labor told her to file an identity theft affidavit and they froze the claim. Took about 3 weeks to resolve but they handled everything once she proved it wasn't her.

ugh this happened to me too!! someone in florida filed unemployment under my name and i only found out because i got a random tax form. took FOREVER to get through to someone at NYS Department of Labor but once i did they were actually really helpful. definitely file a police report like the other person said

If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone (which is super common), I had success using a service called Claimyr that helped me reach an actual agent. They have this system that calls for you and connects you when someone picks up. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Worth checking out claimyr.com if you keep getting busy signals or getting disconnected.

If you can't get through to NYS Department of Labor by phone (their lines are always jammed), try using Claimyr at claimyr.com - they help people reach actual agents instead of sitting on hold forever. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. For fraud cases especially you really need to talk to a real person not just submit online forms.

DEFINITELY check your credit reports too!!! If someone has your info to file unemployment they probably have everything they need for other fraud. I would freeze all your credit immediately and monitor your bank accounts.

This whole system is such a mess. The fact that someone can just file under your SSN without any real verification is insane. I read somewhere that unemployment fraud cost New York millions last year. Sorry this happened to you OP but at least you caught it early.

same thing happened to me but with a different state unemployment system... these scammers are everywhere now

This is really scary but you're doing the right thing by acting quickly! I work in banking and we see this type of fraud all the time unfortunately. In addition to contacting NYS Department of Labor fraud hotline, I'd recommend placing a fraud alert on your credit reports with all three bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) right away. Also check if your employer has been notified - sometimes the state will contact employers about unemployment claims filed by their "employees." Document everything and keep records of all your communications with NYS Department of Labor. The sooner you report it, the easier it will be to resolve.

This is absolutely infuriating that this is happening to so many people! I've been following this thread and it's clear this is a major issue with the unemployment system. For anyone dealing with this - I'd also recommend checking if you've received any debit cards or mail from ReliaCard (the company that handles NY unemployment payments) that you didn't expect. Sometimes that's the first sign people notice. Also, if you have trouble getting through to the fraud hotline, try calling first thing in the morning when they open - I've heard the wait times are shorter then. Stay strong OP, it sounds like most people who report it quickly get it resolved within a few weeks!

I'm so sorry this happened to you! As someone who went through a similar identity theft situation (not unemployment related but still scary), I wanted to add that you should also consider filing a report with the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov. They'll create a personalized recovery plan and give you an affidavit that can be helpful when dealing with NYS Department of Labor and other agencies. Also, keep detailed records of every phone call, email, and document - write down names, dates, reference numbers, everything. It might seem excessive now but it really helps if you need to escalate or if there are any lingering issues later. The good news is that you caught this early and everyone here is giving you solid advice. You've got this!