NY unemployment claiming my identity was stolen and made fraudulent claims??
Just found out someone stole my identity and used it to collect NY unemployment benefits in late 2022. I'd never applied for benefits until last month when I was laid off from my tech job during a company downsizing. When I finally got through to file my claim in early November, I was told there was a hold because of "suspicious activity" on my account. After THREE weeks of calling every day and getting nowhere, I finally reached someone who told me my SSN had been used to collect almost $9,200 in benefits from September through December 2022 - when I was definitely still employed! Now they're saying I need to file a police report, submit all kinds of identity verification docs, and then wait for an investigation that could take MONTHS. Meanwhile I have rent due and my savings are running out. Has anyone else dealt with this identity theft nightmare with ny unemployment? How long did it take to resolve?
39 comments
KylieRose
OMG yes this happened to me too! Someone filed using my info back in march of this year while i was still working at my job. I didnt find out until I got laid off in July and tried to file. took me almost 4 months to get it all straightened out. the police report is actually important, make sure you file it asap. I also had to upload like 6 different forms of ID - passport, license, ss card, birth certificate, bank statements, everything. the whole process is garbage.
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Aaliyah Jackson
4 MONTHS??? I cant wait that long, my landlord is already breathing down my neck. Did u ever get backpay for all that time they made u wait?
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KylieRose
Yeah i did get backpay eventually but it was a nightmare. Had to borrow money from family to make it through. Make sure you keep certifying every week even tho ur not getting paid yet!
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Miguel Hernández
This is why I alwayz keep 6 months expenses saved up. Never kno when the system gonna screw you over 🤷♂️
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KylieRose
Ok Mr. Moneybags 🙄 not all of us can save that much with these insane NY rents
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Sasha Ivanov
After trying for weeks to reach someone at ny unemployment about my identity theft issue, I tried this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) and they actually got me a callback with a live agent! Best money I've spent considering how much was at stake. They have this system that waits on hold for you and then calls your phone when an agent picks up. The rep I spoke with was able to expedite my identity verification and explained exactly what docs I needed to upload. Check out their demo video here: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE
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Liam Murphy
sounds like one of those ads that pops up everywhere. anyone ACTUALLY try this besides you? seems fishy...
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Sasha Ivanov
Not an ad lol. I was skeptical too but was desperate after 3 weeks of constant busy signals. It worked for me - got a call back in about 2 hours when I'd been trying for days on my own.
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Amara Okafor
I've been trying to reach unemployment for 2 weeks now. might have to try this...
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CaptainAwesome
wait hold up - does this actually work or is it just another unemployment 'hack' that never delivers? I've wasted so much time already
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Sasha Ivanov
It worked for me. The service just sits on hold for you and calls when a human picks up. Saved me hours of hold music torture.
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Miguel Hernández
Same thing happened to my brother last year! He had to jump through so many hoops. Make sure you document EVERYTHING. Take screenshots of all the stuff you upload, get case #s whenever you talk to someone, and follow up every week. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with these bureaucrats. Also file a report with the FTC at identitytheft.gov in addition to the police report.
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Aaliyah Jackson
Thanks for the advice. Did your brother ever find out who did it? I'm freaking out thinking about what else they might have access to
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Miguel Hernández
Nope, they never caught the person. He ended up having to put credit freezes on all his accounts and change all his passwords. Its crazy how common this is becoming.
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Yuki Tanaka
This identity theft situation with ny unemployment is completely out of control. I work at a legal aid office and we've seen a 300% increase in these cases just in the last 6 months. The department is completely overwhelmed and understaffed. Here's what you need to do to have the best chance at resolving this quickly: - File police report immediately (take a copy with you if you go in person to a DOL office) - Submit identity theft affidavit (get it from the DOL website) - Send in multiple forms of ID (the more the better) - Call the fraud department directly at their special number: 888-598-2077 - File reports with credit bureaus and set up fraud alerts - Contact your state representative's office - they can often help expedite - Check claimyr.com if you need to get through to an agent quickly The most important thing is persistence. Keep detailed records of every call, every person you speak with, and every document you submit. You'll eventually get your benefits, but it won't happen without consistent follow-up. Good luck!
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Aaliyah Jackson
THANK YOU for this detailed response. Just called that fraud number and actually got through to someone! They're sending me a special form to fill out.
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Esmeralda Gómez
I've been trying that fraud number for days and just get a busy signal. How did you get through?
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Aaliyah Jackson
I called right when they opened at 8am... took about 15 tries but finally got in the queue
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Klaus Schmidt
the whole ny unemployment system is a joke. their security is so bad hackers are stealing identities left and right. My cousins, my neighbor, and 2 of my coworkers all had the same thing happen. Its like they dont even check if people are actually unemployed before sending out $$$.
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Aisha Patel
I had this happen 2 me in august. it took about 8 weeks total to fix but I DID get all my money eventually. the key is to keep certifying every single week even while ur claim is on hold! and call EVERY DAY. what really worked for me was contacting my state assembly person - their office has special contacts at unemployment and can help push things through faster.
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Aaliyah Jackson
Which assembly person did you contact? I'm in Brooklyn
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Aisha Patel
I'm upstate but just google your district and reach out to whoever represents you. They all have staff dedicated to helping with these issues.
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LilMama23
Here's a weird trick that actually worked for me - I sent a paper letter (yes, actual mail) to the commissioner's office explaining my situation with copies of all my documentation. Got a call from a supervisor within a week. Sometimes the old school methods work when everything else fails. 💯
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Dmitri Volkov
this is actually brilliant. everybody's calling and emailing but nobody sends physical mail anymore. gonna try this!
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Gabrielle Dubois
Check your credit reports ASAP!! If they stole your identity for unemployment they might be using it for other stuff too. I had this happen and they also tried to open credit cards in my name.
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Aaliyah Jackson
Oh god I didnt even think about that. Just froze my credit at all 3 bureaus. Thanks for the heads up!
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Tyrone Johnson
NY unemployment is swamped with these fraud cases. My friend works there and says they have THOUSANDS of identity theft claims to process and not nearly enough staff. The system wasnt designed to handle this level of fraud. Not saying its right but thats why its taking so long for everyone.
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Ingrid Larsson
Hey I saw someone mention Claimyr on this thread - I was skeptical but I tried it this morning and got through to unemployment in 90 minutes after trying for weeks on my own. They connected me right to the fraud department and I'm actually making progress now. My case is moving forward! Sometimes you just need to talk to a human to get things unstuck. claimyr.com if anyone else is stuck in the phone hell like I was.
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Carlos Mendoza
another day, another company promising to fix the unfixable unemployment system lol... but fr did it actually help?
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Ingrid Larsson
Yeah it actually did help. I was super skeptical too but was at my wits end after weeks of busy signals and disconnects. They just handle the hold time for you which is honestly worth it.
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Zainab Mahmoud
U should file a complaint with the NY state attorney general too. They've been investigating unemployment fraud. https://ag.ny.gov/consumer-frauds/Filing-a-Consumer-Complaint
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Ava Williams
their terrible phone system makes me wanna throw my fone at the wall 🤬 been trying for 3 weeks and cant even get in the queue!! how is anyone supposed to resolve identity theft if you cant even talk to a human??
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Raj Gupta
Try calling exactly at 7:55am right before they open. Thats how I got through after weeks of trying.
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Ava Williams
tried that. tried calling at 7:30, 7:45, 7:55, 8:00 exactly. tried calling at 4:55pm. nothing works. its rigged.
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Lena Müller
I've heard people having luck with claimyr.com when nothing else works
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TechNinja
If ur in NYC, theres an actual unemployment office u can go to in person. I had to do this when my account was compromised. Bring ALL ur documents, get there before they open, and be prepared to wait all day. But at least you'll talk to a real person who can help.
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Aaliyah Jackson
Where is it located? I'm willing to go in person at this point
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TechNinja
There's one at 9 Bond St in Brooklyn and another at 215 W 125th St in Manhattan. Check the DOL website to make sure theyre open before u go tho
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Keisha Thompson
dO NOT give up!! my identity was stolen for unemployment last year and it took 3 months but i got all my back payments plus interest. The system is broken but persistence pays off. document EVERYTHING!!
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