Warning: NY unemployment scams increasing as benefits get harder to access

This is SO important! I got a call yesterday from someone claiming to be a "benefits accelerator" saying they could get me my money in 24 hours if I just gave them my claim ID and last 4 of SSN. When I asked how they got my number they hung up immediately. These scumbags know ppl are desperate right now 😡

After spending weeks trying to get through to a human at unemployment, I tried this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) - they actually got me connected to a real agent without waiting for hours. Talking to an agent got my money unlocked so fast when I explained what was happening with these scammers. They told me there's been a huge rise in fraud. Worth checking out if you're having trouble getting through to report suspicious activity: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

I work in cybersecurity and want to add some tips on how to spot these scams: 1) Official unemployment communications NEVER come from gmail, yahoo, or other public email domains 2) The real unemployment office already has your SSN - they won't ask for the full number again 3) Government agencies don't use payment apps like Venmo, CashApp, Bitcoin or gift cards EVER 4) Be wary of poor grammar or spelling mistakes in official-looking communications 5) The real NYSDOL site is unemployment.labor.ny.gov - anything else is suspect If you think you've been scammed, contact NYSDOL directly, change your passwords, and consider putting a fraud alert on your credit report with all three bureaus.

yupp i got a text with a link to "verify my benefits" yesterday. message looked official and everything. I called the actual unemployment number from their website (not the one in the text) and they confirmed it was a scam. Stay vigilant yall

These scammers make me SICK. We're already struggling to survive and they prey on desperate people??? I got a text saying my "benefits were suspended due to suspicious activity" and I needed to verify my identity. Almost had a heart attack before realizing it was fake.

The worst part is how HARD it is to actually reach the real unemployment office to report these scams! I spent 6 days calling repeatedly trying to talk to someone. The irony is the harder it is to reach the real people, the more desperate folks get and the more likely they are to fall for scams.

BTW there's also these fake "unemployment helpers" on facebook charging people $50-100 to "expedite claims" - total scam. My sister paid one and they just disappeared with her money.

I've noticed a lot of these scams target older people who aren't as tech savvy. My dad almost fell for one where they called claiming to be from "unemployment security" and said his benefits were going to be cancelled unless he verified his banking info. Luckily he called me first to ask if it was legit.

When in doubt about ANY communication - don't click links, don't call phone numbers provided in the message. Always go directly to the official unemployment website by typing the address yourself (unemployment.labor.ny.gov) or call the number listed ON THAT SITE. This is basic internet safety but I think everyone needs the reminder right now.

I wish the real ny unemployment office would do more to warn people about these scams! They should send official emails and texts warning what to look out for. The lack of communication from them makes it even harder to know what's real and what's fake.

I've been dealing with this nightmare of trying to access my NY unemployment benefits for MONTHS. The system is such a disaster that it LITERALLY makes people more vulnerable to scams. I finally broke down and used claimyr.com to get a real person on the phone and they confirmed my account had been flagged because someone else tried to claim benefits using my info! I would have never known if I hadn't finally gotten through.

i know this sounds obvious but dont share screenshots of your unemployment portal/claims on social media even with personal info blurred out! scammers can use those screenshots to make very convincing fake sites.

FWIW I reported a scam text to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov but who knows if anything will come of it. At least I felt like I was doing something I guess...

Anyone else notice these scams seem to ramp up around the same time benefits are being reviewed? I swear the week before my quarterly review I got like 5 different phishing attempts.

If you've been scammed, immediately: 1. Contact your bank to stop/reverse any payments 2. Change ALL your passwords (email, bank, unemployment portal) 3. Place a fraud alert with credit bureaus 4. Report to FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov 5. Report to NY Attorney General 6. Contact unemployment office (use claimyr.com if you can't get through) 7. File a police report (helps with identity theft) Don't be embarrassed - these scammers are professionals and even smart people fall for them. The important thing is to act fast.

ok but for real tho how do we tell what's legit anymore?? the actual unemployment system is so glitchy and weird sometimes I can't even tell what's a scam vs what's just the system being broken 🤔

Just wanna add - if anyone gets scammed, don't beat yourself up about it. These criminals are getting VERY sophisticated and they know exactly how to exploit the confusion around unemployment. My mom works in banking and says even she's impressed (and horrified) by how convincing some of these scams are now.

Anyone else notice that scammers seem to be targeting people on specific days? I always get these fake texts on Mondays right after I certify my weekly benefits. Makes me think there's some kind of data breach happening.