Got a TWC deposit from West Virginia but never lived there - identity theft?

This is definitely a red flag for identity theft. Someone likely used your personal information to file an unemployment claim in West Virginia. Here's what you should do right away: 1. Do NOT spend that money - you'll eventually have to return it 2. Contact West Virginia's unemployment office (WorkForce West Virginia) to report fraud 3. File an identity theft report with the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov 4. Check your credit reports for other suspicious activity 5. Consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze on your credit reports This has become increasingly common since 2020. The sooner you report it, the better protected you'll be.

had this happen to my cousin last year!!! some1 filed in like 3 different states using his info. total nightmare for him. took forever to get straightened out. definitely identity theft yo

I work with identity theft cases, and this is a textbook example of unemployment fraud. In addition to what the first commenter suggested, you should also: 1. Contact your bank immediately and explain the situation - they may flag the deposit or create a separate case file 2. Call TWC in Texas to alert them as well, as fraudsters often file in multiple states 3. Document everything meticulously - dates, confirmation numbers, names of people you speak with Also check if your employer received any unemployment claim verification requests from West Virginia - that could help track how long this has been happening.

Update: I called West Virginia's unemployment office this morning and they confirmed someone filed a claim using my SSN and personal info. They're opening a fraud investigation and said I should return the money. Now I'm worried about my tax situation for next year. Will I get a 1099-G from West Virginia even though this wasn't me??

The SAME EXACT THING happened to me but with Oregon!! And i live in Dallas! Never been to Oregon in my life! It took me MONTHS to get it all straightened out and I'm still dealing with credit issues. Make sure you put a freeze on your credit at all three agencies right away!!!

Ugh, the entire unemployment system is a DISASTER and the government does NOTHING to protect us! My husband had his identity stolen for unemployment in FOUR different states during 2021 and we're STILL fighting with tax issues because of it. The state agencies blame each other, the IRS doesn't care, and meanwhile WE suffer with bad credit and tax bills for money we never received!! It's absolutely CRIMINAL how poorly this is handled!!

yo just curious... how much was the deposit? asking for a friend lol j/k but seriously that's crazy

One more important step: check if you can access your TWC account online with your existing credentials. If you can't log in with your usual password, that could indicate the fraudster has also compromised your Texas TWC account. In that case, you'll need to contact TWC's fraud department directly to secure your Texas benefits as well. Also, keep detailed records of all correspondence with West Virginia. This fraud pattern often involves multiple states, so don't be surprised if you discover additional claims filed in your name elsewhere.

This happened to my brother-in-law and the worst part was that the IRS tried to make him pay taxes on "benefits" he never received or applied for! Fight this aggressively and document EVERYTHING. The burden of proof somehow falls on the victim which is completely backwards. The system is broken.

Final update: I've reported the fraud to West Virginia, filed an FTC report, put freezes on my credit, and my bank is helping return the money. West Virginia said they're seeing a lot of these cases and promised to send me something in writing confirming this was fraud for my tax records. Thanks everyone for your help! This community has been amazing with advice during a stressful situation.