How to check if someone filed unemployment under my name - Washington ESD fraud concerns

I tried logging in but it says my account is already registered. I definitely never set up a SAW account before. This is really scary.

That confirms someone used your identity. You'll need to contact Washington ESD fraud department immediately and also file a police report for identity theft.

Oh no, I didn't even think about credit cards or loans. Did your coworker get it resolved?

took about 6 weeks but yeah she got it sorted out. washington esd was actually pretty helpful once she proved it wasn't her

Thank you! Should I also contact the IRS since unemployment benefits are taxable income?

Yes, definitely contact the IRS because you'll get a 1099-G form for benefits you didn't receive. You can dispute it but it's easier to get ahead of it now.

Also freeze your credit with all three bureaus immediately. If they have enough info for unemployment fraud, they can open credit accounts too.

How does Claimyr work exactly? I'm desperate to talk to someone at Washington ESD about this fraud.

They basically call Washington ESD for you and get you connected to an actual agent. Saved me so much time and frustration when I was dealing with my identity theft case.

Never heard of this service before but might be worth it if you can't get through the normal way. Fraud cases need immediate attention.

I get the frustration but the reality is that unemployment systems had to process millions of claims quickly during COVID and security measures got relaxed. Now we're dealing with the aftermath.

Well they better fix it fast because this is ruining people's lives. Identity theft is serious business.

Good point, I'll check with HR tomorrow to see if they got anything from Washington ESD about me.

Also ask them to flag your file in case any other requests come in. Some fraudsters file multiple claims with different benefit types.

How do I recover my SAW account if someone else set it up with my info? Do I need to prove my identity somehow?

You'll need to go through identity verification with Washington ESD. Bring your driver's license, Social Security card, and recent pay stubs to prove you're the real person.

Sometimes you can do this over the phone but for fraud cases they usually want you to verify in person or through secure document upload.

Oh my god, how did you handle the tax situation? Did you have to pay taxes on money you never received?

had to file identity theft affidavit with IRS and dispute the 1099-G with washington esd. took forever but eventually got it resolved

Good advice, I'm already starting to collect everything. This is so stressful.

It is stressful but the key is being proactive. The sooner you report it and get the ball rolling, the less damage the fraudster can do.

I did get some emails from Washington ESD that I thought were spam! I should have paid more attention.

Those emails might show when the claim was filed and what type of benefits were requested. Save them all for your fraud case.

That's smart, I'll ask HR for an employment verification letter tomorrow. Did your brother's employer have any issues with this?

nah they were understanding since it's happening to lots of people. his company actually changed their policy to alert employees faster about wage verification requests

Already started doing that. Changed my banking passwords and enabled two-factor authentication everywhere I could.

Good! Also consider getting identity monitoring service for a while, at least until you're sure the fraudster isn't trying other scams.

That's reassuring to hear. I was worried they wouldn't take it seriously or would think I was lying.

They definitely take it seriously now. Identity theft for unemployment benefits became a huge problem during COVID so they have dedicated staff for it.

I'm definitely going to try Claimyr tomorrow. I need to talk to someone at Washington ESD ASAP about this fraud.

Just looked at that video demo - seems legit. Might be worth the cost if it saves you days of trying to get through.

I didn't know the FTC handled this stuff. Is there a specific form or website for unemployment fraud?

Go to IdentityTheft.gov - it walks you through reporting identity theft and creates a personalized recovery plan. Really helpful resource.

Paper systems had their own fraud problems and were way slower to process. The real issue is better identity verification, not going backwards technologically.

maybe but at least with paper you had to physically show up somewhere instead of just typing in someone's SSN from your couch

Interesting point - I'll look for that when I finally get into my SAW account. Thanks for the tip!

Definitely not ignoring it! Already started making a list of everyone I need to contact tomorrow. This thread has been super helpful.

Good luck! It's scary when it first happens but most people get it sorted out within a few weeks if they stay on top of it.

That's good to know. I really hope no money has been paid out yet but I'll ask about recovery if it has.

The fraud investigators are pretty good at tracking down where the money went, especially for recent cases. Don't assume it's gone forever.