PA UC identity theft concern - previous claim in my name I didn't file

This is definitely something you should address right away. Unemployment fraud was rampant during the pandemic, and many people had claims filed in their names without their knowledge. Call the PA UC Fraud Hotline at 1-800-692-7292 and report this. They'll flag your account with a note that you were a victim of identity theft. Also, check your credit reports to make sure there's no other suspicious activity.

omg same thing happened to me last year!! someone filed in my name in 2020 and i didnt find out until i applied for real. definitely call and report it asap. took me FOREVER to get my actual claim approved cuz of the ID verification they made me do after.

You absolutely need to report this as potential identity theft, but don't panic. Since the fraudulent claim was denied, there's less risk of complications. Here's what you should do: 1. Call the PA UC Fraud Hotline (1-800-692-7292) 2. Document the call with date, time and representative name 3. Request written confirmation of your report 4. Ask them to notate your current claim with this information 5. Complete ID.me verification if you haven't already It's also wise to place a fraud alert with the credit bureaus and monitor your credit reports for the next year.

I tried calling the PA UC fraud hotline for THREE DAYS straight when I discovered someone filed in my name during COVID. IMPOSSIBLE to get through!!! The phone system is completely broken. I ended up using Claimyr to reach a human being (claimyr.com) - they got me connected to a UC agent in about 20 minutes when I had been trying for days. You can see how it works in their video: https://youtu.be/CEPETxZdo9E?si=WL1ZzVZWG3KiHrg2 The agent was able to put notes on my account about the identity theft and helped me complete the fraud report right over the phone. Saved me so much stress!

THE WHOLE UC SYSTEM IS A JOKE!!! They let fraudsters file thousands of fake claims during covid but make honest people jump through 500 hoops to get benefits. I spent MONTHS trying to fix identity theft issues with my claim in 2022. Don't expect this to be easy or quick!! Document EVERYTHING and get ready for a fight!!!!

I had something similar happen. Went to file for unemployment and found out someone had tried to file in my name during the pandemic. After about 10,000 calls, I finally got through to UC and explained the situation. They put a note on my account and had me submit extra documentation to prove my identity. It delayed my claim payment by about 3 weeks, but eventually everything got sorted out. Just be persistent and keep calling.

UPDATE: I was finally able to reach someone at the fraud department! After about 50 attempts over two days, I got through. The agent confirmed someone tried to file a fraudulent claim using my info in 2021. They added notes to my account about the identity theft and told me my current claim should process normally, but might take an extra week for review. They're also sending me a form to fill out to officially document the fraud. Thanks everyone for the advice and help!

So glad you were able to get through and get this resolved! 50 attempts is ridiculous but unfortunately typical for PA UC phone lines. The fact that they're proactively adding notes to your account is a good sign - it shows they're taking the identity theft seriously. That extra week of review time is totally worth it for the peace of mind. Keep us posted on how your claim progresses, and definitely follow through on that fraud documentation form. Your experience might help other people in similar situations!