Rampant Fraud: Unemployment Claims Flooded with Suspicion

The Connecticut Labor Department has reported a surge in unemployment benefits due to identity theft, with criminals using stolen identities to file for benefits. The department suspects that around 75 percent of the claims received are fraudulent. Employers are often the first to be notified when an identity is stolen, and employees who are victims of identity theft should report it to the department. Residents should also report identity theft if they receive monetary determination letters or tax forms for unemployment benefits they did not file for. The department is working closely with law enforcement agencies to prevent unemployment fraud and protect the employer-funded Trust Fund.