Received unexpected ESD checks for 2 weeks - possible identity theft?

Oh no - this definitely sounds like identity theft. Someone might have filed an unemployment claim using your SSN. DO NOT cash those checks!!! Contact the ESD fraud department immediately at 800-246-9763. You should also file a police report and freeze your credit.

Thanks for the quick response! That number is the one I've been calling but can't get through. It just disconnects after being on hold. Should I try to upload something through my eServices account instead? I'm worried about how long this person might have been using my info.

This happened to my brother last fall. Definitely identity theft. Here's what he had to do:\n\n1. Report it to ESD through their fraud reporting page: https://esd.wa.gov/unemployment/unemployment-benefits-fraud\n2. File a police report\n3. Contact all 3 credit bureaus to place a fraud alert\n4. File a report with the FTC at identitytheft.gov\n\nDo NOT ignore this - it won't go away on its own and could cause you tax problems later.

Thank you for these specific steps! Did your brother ever find out how his information was compromised? I'm worried about what else might be at risk.

He never found out exactly how it happened, but he did discover his data was included in a couple of major data breaches. The important thing was getting it reported quickly to minimize damage. ESD eventually sent him a letter confirming the claim wasn't his and that they noted it as fraudulent on his record.

OMG exact same thing happened to me!!!!! got 3 checks last month and i havent filed for unemp in like 4 years. so freaked out. called esd like 50 times nobody picks up ever.

When you can't reach ESD by phone for fraud issues, try emailing them at esdgpfraud@esd.wa.gov with

You should probably be checking your credit report and other accounts too. If someone has enough of your personal info to file an unemployment claim, they might be doing other stuff with your identity. Been there, took me months to clean up the mess.

You're right, I didn't even think about that. I'll check my credit reports right away. This is so frustrating!

If you're having trouble getting through to the ESD fraud department (which is super common), I'd highly recommend using Claimyr. It helped me get through to an actual ESD agent when I had a similar issue with fraudulent claims. Their system holds your place in line and calls you back when an agent is available. Saved me hours of frustration. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 that shows how it works. Definitely worth it for urgent fraud issues.

does this actually work??? i've been trying to reach esd for 2 weeks!!

It worked for me! I was skeptical at first, but after trying to get through for days on my own, I gave it a shot. Got a callback within a couple hours and was able to report the fraud directly to an agent.

this happens a lot the last couple years. ESD systems got breached during covid and now ID theft is crazy. my neighbor works at esd and said they got thousands of fraud cases every month still.

That's really concerning! I wonder if it was related to one of those big data breaches in the news. I'm going to try the email address someone mentioned above along with the Claimyr service to get through to a representative.

Once you've reported this to ESD, make sure you also contact the IRS. The fraudster who filed the claim in your name will potentially have unemployment benefits reported under your SSN, which could create tax issues for you next year. The IRS has a specific form (Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit) that you should file ASAP. Also request an Identity Protection PIN from the IRS for added security going forward.

I hadn't even thought about the tax implications! Thank you for bringing that up. I'll definitely file that IRS form right away.

Don't forget to document EVERYTHING - take photos of the checks, save all emails, keep a log of all your calls and attempts to contact ESD. Write down dates, times, and who you spoke with. This will be important if you need to prove you acted promptly and didn't cash the fraudulent checks.

That's great advice. I'll start keeping detailed records of everything. I actually just got through to ESD using that Claimyr service someone recommended. They confirmed it's fraud and are opening an investigation. They're sending me paperwork to complete and told me to write VOID across the checks and return them.