How to check if someone filed unemployment under my name in Washington ESD system

Thank you! I tried calling that number but it just keeps saying high call volume and hangs up on me. Is there another way to reach them?

The phone lines are always jammed. You can also report it online at esd.wa.gov under the fraud reporting section. Make sure to gather all the documentation you received.

Oh god I didn't even think about that. I should probably freeze my credit too right?

Definitely freeze your credit with all three bureaus immediately. This might not be limited to just unemployment fraud.

Is this legit? I'm already dealing with potential fraud so I'm nervous about using third-party services.

Yeah it's legitimate, they just help you get through the phone system. For something this serious you definitely want to talk to a real Washington ESD agent ASAP.

The letter has my correct name, address, and the last 4 digits of my SSN match. That's what's freaking me out.

Oh wow, that does sound like real identity theft then. Definitely follow the fraud reporting advice above.

Actually the online system has better fraud detection than the old paper system. The real problem is data breaches giving criminals access to personal info.

maybe but still seems like more fraud happening now than before

Good idea about requesting the application copy. I want to see exactly what they know about me.

Just be prepared - sometimes they have scary amounts of personal info including past employers and addresses. That's how they make the claims look legitimate.

Will the police actually do anything though? I thought they don't really investigate this stuff.

They probably won't investigate but you need the report for documentation purposes. It proves you reported it as soon as you found out.

Great that you got through! Make sure you keep checking your credit reports over the next few months in case they try to use your info elsewhere.

Glad Claimyr worked for you! It's really the only reliable way to reach Washington ESD agents these days.

What kind of alerts do you have set up? I clearly need to be more proactive about this stuff.

Credit monitoring alerts, bank account alerts for any transactions, and I even have alerts set up with the IRS for tax filing. Sounds paranoid but it works.

She said it's usually from data breaches at companies or sometimes people buying info on the dark web. Really scary stuff.

Yeah my neighbor found out her info was part of that Equifax breach from a few years ago. It's still being used for fraud.

I never thought about checking SSA records. Will fraudulent unemployment benefits show up there?

Yes, because employers pay into the unemployment system based on your earnings. If someone's collecting benefits fraudulently under your SSN, it might affect your record.

4 months?? That's insane. Did it affect her credit or anything during that time?

Thankfully no, but she had to keep following up with them constantly. They're overwhelmed with fraud cases.

Good advice. I'm starting a folder with all the documents and keeping notes of every conversation.

Smart! Also take screenshots of any online portals or accounts if they create one under your name.

How much does it cost? Seems like we shouldn't have to pay extra just to reach a government agency.

I agree it shouldn't be necessary, but when you're dealing with fraud time is critical. The cost is worth avoiding weeks of busy signals.

Unexpected mail from Washington ESD is the big one. Also if your employer gets a notice about you filing for benefits when you're still working.

I should probably warn my employer's HR department to watch for this stuff too.

Glad it worked out! Keep monitoring your credit and other accounts for the next few months just to be safe.

Great outcome! Shows how important it is to get through to Washington ESD quickly when dealing with fraud issues.

Thanks for updating us! This thread will be helpful for others dealing with the same situation.