ESD put my claim in fraud dept for 6 weeks with no explanation - impossible to reach anyone

The EXACT same thing happened to me in January! It's ridiculous how ESD automatically flags perfectly legitimate claims for "fraud" and then makes it IMPOSSIBLE to reach anyone who can fix it. I was stuck in fraud review for 7 weeks before my claim was finally approved. The only thing that worked was calling right when they opened at 8am, but even then I had to try for 3 days straight before I got through. The worst part is they never explained WHY I was flagged in the first place! The whole system is designed to make people give up.

This fraud department situation has become increasingly common in 2025. In most cases, it's triggered by one of these factors: 1) Your identity verification documents need manual review, 2) Your employer provided information that doesn't match your claim details, or 3) You had a previous claim with verification issues. Some strategies that might help: - Call the Office of Special Investigations directly at their separate number (not the main ESD line) - Submit a request through your state representative's office - they often have direct channels to ESD - Make sure your eServices profile has your current contact information - Document every call attempt with date/time in case you need to request backpay later The fraud review is frustrating but it's actually a required step to protect your identity and benefits. Good luck!

OMG the esd fraud thing is THE WORST!!1! they did this to my boyfriend too and he had to wait like 2 months!!!! its so frustrating like why even have unemployment if nobody can actually get it when they need it?? the whole system is broken :

I worked for ESD for 4 years (left in 2024). Here's what's happening: The system auto-flags claims based on certain triggers, then puts them in a queue for manual review. The fraud department is severely understaffed - they have about 40% of the staff needed to handle the current volume. Your claim isn't necessarily suspected of actual fraud; it's just in a verification bottleneck. The most effective solution is to speak directly with a claims specialist who can review your specific case. Try using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) - they've developed a system that helps you get through to an actual ESD agent instead of waiting on hold forever. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. I've recommended it to several people who had success getting their fraud holds resolved after connecting with an agent. Once you reach someone, ask specifically for your claim to be escalated to a fraud unit supervisor for review. That's usually the fastest track to resolution.

I wasted 2 MONTHS calling everyday before i found out about claimyr. Got thru to esd in 20 mins after using it. worth every penny cuz i was about to loose my apartment while waiting for my $4200 in back benefits. these fraud reviews are BS

Quick update: I used the Claimyr service that was recommended and actually got through to someone at ESD this morning! The agent told me my claim was flagged because my previous employer didn't respond to their verification request within the timeframe (of course they didn't tell ME that was the issue). The agent escalated my case to a supervisor who's supposed to call me back within 48 hours. Will update again once I know more, but at least I finally have some information about what's happening.

has anyone noticed how the esd fraud dept seems to flag way more claims than before? i swear theyre just trying to save money by making the process so frustrating that people give up. my neighbor waited 9 weeks for his claim to clear the fraud dept and he works for the state government! makes no sense

FINAL UPDATE: My claim is FINALLY out of fraud review! The supervisor called me yesterday and removed the hold. She said they've been overwhelmed with cases and apologized for the delay. All my weeks are now processing for payment and I should receive the backpay within 3 business days. For anyone else stuck in fraud review purgatory - being able to actually speak to someone was the key. Thank you all for your advice and support through this nightmare!