The
Montana Department of Labor & Industry (DLI) today alerts Montanans to a
recent development in nationwide fraud schemes targeting unemployment insurance
programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We
continue to see reports of criminals applying for unemployment benefits using
someone else’s identity and personal information stolen from sources outside of
the agency,”
Acting Commissioner Brenda Nordlund said. “DLI has controls and processes in
place to prevent, identify, and block fraud, to protect the integrity of
Montana’s unemployment system. Montanans can help us with this cause by
protecting their personal information and reporting any suspicious activity to the
Department.”
With
the help of the public, DLI has learned that criminals are using physical
addresses of properties for sale, which are available online, in an attempt to
remain undetected.
DLI
has issued an announcement to the Montana Board of Realty Regulation and the
Montana Association of Realtors to elevate awareness and prompt action in
response to this fraudulent activity.
DLI is
asking the public to help combat UI fraud by:
- Returning
mail from DLI that is addressed to someone other than themselves to the
post office by writing “NATA – Not at This Address” on the envelope and
dropping it in an outgoing mailbox.
- Notifying
our
fraud
prevention unit
if they did not apply for UI
yet received mail that indicates a claim was opened in their name.
- Remaining
vigilant in protecting all personally identifiable information.
DLI is
continuously working to resist these criminal schemes. Between June 1, 2020,
and August 31, 2020, alone, DLI has stopped just under $189M in fraudulent
payments, in addition to another $185M in possibly fraudulent UI payments.
DLI
encourages those that believe they may be a victim of unemployment fraud to
report it at
uid.dli.mt.gov/report-fraud immediately. The Federal Trade
Commission’s identity theft website at identitytheft.gov provides resources and
a detailed step-by-step process for reporting and protecting against identity
theft. Those that have been a target of this criminal activity are not required
to repay any stolen money. Individuals who are victims of UI fraud are still
able to apply for unemployment benefits if needed.
Agency
staff thoroughly review and investigate all reports of potential, alleged, or
suspected fraud. Those found to have committed UI fraud are subject to federal
and state criminal prosecution.