Is (518)581-3567 a legitimate NY unemployment DOL phone number or a scam?

That's NOT an official NYS DOL number. The main unemployment phone numbers are (888) 209-8124 for regular claims and (877) 221-1634 for the automated phone system. Be very careful about returning calls to numbers you don't recognize, especially if they're asking for personal information. If someone legitimate from DOL is trying to reach you, they would typically leave a specific reference number in their message and ask you to call the main number, not a random direct line.

i got a call from that EXACT number last month!!! they asked for my ssn and banking info to "verify my identity" - total SCAM!!! i reported it to the dol fraud department

This is definitely a scam. I work in cybersecurity, and unemployment scams have spiked dramatically in 2025. They target people who are already stressed about finances and use fear tactics to get your personal information. The real DOL will NEVER ask for your full SSN or banking details over the phone. They already have that information in their system. If you're waiting on claim determination, you should proactively contact the DOL through their official channels. The main number is often busy, but persistent calling early in the morning (right when they open) usually works.

The DOL is a nightmare to get through to!!!! I had a similar situation last month and tried calling the official number 33 TIMES before I got through. Every morning for a week. System is completely broken. If anyone needs to actually speak to a rep, I finally had success with Claimyr - claimyr.com - they have this system that gets you into the DOL phone queue without you having to keep redialing. Saw their video demo (https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE) and decided to try it when I was desperate. Got through to an agent in about 20 minutes after trying for days on my own.

The real NY DOL numbers start with 888 or 877 usually, not 518. And they typically send secure messages through your online account instead of calling directly these days. Have you checked your message inbox on the NY.gov unemployment portal? They might have sent you something there instead of calling.

Seems like everyone is getting these scam calls lately!! My cousin got one last week saying his "account was suspended" and needed to verify his identity. When he called back the guy couldn't even pronounce the name of the department he was supposedly from lol. These scammers are getting desperate.

To be super clear about the official DOL contact process: If a DOL representative needs to speak with you about your claim, they will: 1. Usually send a message through your NY.gov account first 2. If they call, it will typically show as a blocked/private number 3. They will identify themselves with their name and ID number 4. They will reference specific information about your claim that only the DOL would know 5. They will NEVER ask for your full SSN (maybe last 4 digits for verification) If your claim has been pending for 3 weeks, that's unfortunately normal in 2025. The current determination timeframe is 2-4 weeks for standard claims, longer if there are any issues that require manual review.

Always report unemployment fraud attempts to the DOL at: https://dol.ny.gov/report-fraud. They take these scams very seriously, especially when scammers are impersonating the department. The more reports they get about specific phone numbers, the faster they can work with carriers to shut them down.

i think i mayde a huge mistake becuz i actully called that number back last week when they left me a message!!! the guy said he was from the "payment processing department" and needed to confirm my address and last 4 of ssn to send my benefits!! i gave him the info and now im freaking out what do i do????

Thanks everyone for confirming this is a scam! I've reported the number to the DOL fraud department using the link provided. Going to try the main number again tomorrow morning when they open. This community is so helpful!