PA UC Money Network card fraud alert - $1,450 stolen in two weeks despite replacement!
Has anyone else been dealing with fraud on their PA unemployment Money Network card?? I'm at my wits' end! Last month someone somehow made unauthorized transactions totaling $1,450 from my benefit payments - first $850 disappeared, I reported it, they 'fixed' it and sent me a new card, then another $700 vanished within DAYS of activating the replacement! I've filed another claim with Money Network but now I'm stuck waiting AGAIN with no benefits to pay my electric bill that's already overdue. The UC office just tells me it's a Money Network issue and won't help. This is seriously stressing me out because I'm already struggling while job hunting. Any advice on protecting my funds or getting this resolved faster???
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Myles Regis
This happened to me last fall! The Money Network cards are notoriously insecure compared to regular debit cards. Here's what worked for me: 1) File a police report and get a case number 2) Contact Money Network with that case number 3) Specifically request your case be escalated to the fraud department supervisor 4) Tell them you want direct deposit instead of the card going forward. For some reason having that police report made them take it way more seriously, and I got my money back within 5 days instead of the 45 they initially quoted me.
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Khalil Urso
•Thank you so much! I didn't even think about filing a police report. Did you go to your local station or was it something you could do online? And did you eventually get direct deposit set up? I definitely don't want to use these cards anymore!
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Brian Downey
omg same thing happnd to me!!! i had 3 charges from some gas station i never been to in TEXAS (im in PA!!!) and then when i got my new card someone bought stuff at walmart online the NEXT DAY!! the money network ppl kept saying 10 business days for investigation but its been 3 weeks now and nothing! so frustrating!!!!!
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Jacinda Yu
•They do this on purpose so they can keep our money longer. The whole system is rigged against us. Been dealing with this garbage for months now. UC doesn't care as long as their system says they paid us.
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Landon Flounder
I work with benefits advocacy and sadly we're seeing this problem frequently with PA UC Money Network cards. The fraud protection on these cards isn't as robust as regular bank cards. Here are some important steps to follow: 1. Set up transaction alerts via text/email for ANY transaction 2. Change your PIN immediately and don't use easy numbers (birthdays, etc.) 3. Never use the card at gas pumps - pay inside 4. Check for card skimmers at any ATM you use 5. Consider setting up direct deposit to your personal bank instead For your current situation, request to speak with a supervisor at Money Network and mention you're documenting everything for a complaint with the CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau). That often accelerates resolution.
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Callum Savage
•is direct deposit really safer tho? i heard they can still mess with your account if they have your info even with direct deposit. my cousin had that happen last year
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Ally Tailer
After fighting with Money Network for weeks and getting nowhere with those endless phone menus, I finally got through to a PA UC rep using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have this service that connects you directly to unemployment agents without the wait. They had a video that showed how it works: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2. The UC agent was able to escalate my Money Network fraud case AND help me switch to direct deposit so it wouldn't happen again. Totally worth it after wasting days trying to get through myself.
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Khalil Urso
•I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point. I've called Money Network probably 10 times and keep getting different answers about how long my claim will take. Do they actually get you through to real UC reps? I've been calling the UC line for days and just get busy signals.
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Aliyah Debovski
Look i know this sounds weird but as SOON as you get a new card, transfer ALL the money out immediately to your personal bank account. Don't leave a single dollar on that Money Network card. I had the exact same problem ($1200 stolen over 3 transactions), and when I complained to my state rep's office, they told me unofficially that there might be issues with the card system security but nobody's addressing it. Now I just transfer everything immediately and haven't had problems since.
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Brian Downey
•this is what i started doing!!! as soon as money hits that card i transfer EVERYTHING to my credit union account right away!! no more problems since i started doing this but its so annoying we gotta do this extra step
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Myles Regis
Update for everyone: I attended a community meeting last week where a PA UC representative spoke, and they're actually aware of the Money Network card fraud issues. They're supposedly rolling out enhanced security features in June 2025, but until then, they recommended: 1. Setting up direct deposit instead of using the card 2. If you must use the card, checking your balance daily 3. Using the Money Network app to freeze your card between uses 4. Never using the card for online purchases They also mentioned there's a dedicated fraud team you can reach at 877-829-5360 that bypasses the regular customer service line.
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Khalil Urso
•THANK YOU! I'm calling that number right now. And I'm definitely setting up direct deposit as soon as this is resolved. I had no idea you could freeze the card between uses - that would have saved me so much trouble!
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Jacinda Yu
Hate to break it to u all but PA uses Money Network because it's THE CHEAPEST option for them, not the best for us. My buddy works in state gov (not UC dept) and says they know about all these fraud problems but aren't fixing it because it would cost more. They count on people giving up on claims. CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT NEEDED!!!
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Aliyah Debovski
•You actually might be onto something with the lawsuit idea. If enough people have documented their fraud cases and Money Network's failure to address them properly, there could be grounds for action. Has anyone reported this to the Attorney General's office?
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Landon Flounder
For those following this thread: I've compiled some important resources for PA UC Money Network card fraud victims: 1. PA Attorney General Consumer Protection: 800-441-2555 2. CFPB Complaint Portal: consumerfinance.gov/complaint 3. PA Treasurer's Office (oversees the Money Network contract): 717-787-2465 4. PA UC Claimant Services: 888-313-7284 (difficult to reach, but they can help with direct deposit setup) Document everything - dates, times, representatives spoken to, and transaction details. Take screenshots of unauthorized transactions. This documentation is crucial when filing reports.
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Khalil Urso
•Update on my situation: I called the fraud team number that was shared and finally got somewhere! They expedited my claim and are sending the money back within 5 business days. I also filed a CFPB complaint just to have it on record. AND I got direct deposit set up through the UC portal so no more Money Network cards for me! Thanks everyone for your help - this community saved me so much stress!
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