Previous | Emergency Response in today's financial markets Next | How to safely use digital banking
June 05, 2020 / Ray Wills
Watch out for unemployment scams

Watch out for unemployment scams

By Ray Wills

In an elaborate scheme, scammers are stealing people’s identities, fraudulently filing for unemployment benefits and then directing the money to their own bank accounts or intercepting paper checks that are then paid out by state governments.

After those funds are deposited into the scammer’s account, they are withdrawn at locations around the country and transferred to other accounts, including accounts overseas.

hand stealing moneyMany victims of the scam learn about the fraud when they receive a notice from the state about a claim or application that they did not file, or when duplicate payments are deposited into their account. 

As a precaution, the state Treasury Department recently announced that unemployment payments will no longer be made by direct deposit. Instead, payments will only be issued by check to the claimant’s address on file.

Still, fraudulent checks are being issued to people who have never filed a claim. If you receive a check or an electronic deposit from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for unemployment compensation and you did not file for unemployment, you are required to file a fraud claim with the PA Department of Labor website and return the check to the address provided, according to the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. 

It is also recommended that you then file a report with your local police department and your financial institution. If you deposit a counterfeit check, it will ultimately be returned, and you risk losing money.

The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General urges Pennsylvanians to stay away from websites claiming to help people file for unemployment. In Pennsylvania, unemployment claims can only be filed with the Department of Labor & Industry at: https://www.uc.pa.gov/. There is never a fee to file an unemployment claim.

There are many tools and FAQs on the website to assist applicants with questions about the COVID-19 emergency. No other website that requests personal information, provides instruction on how to file, and/or provides an opportunity to “file an unemployment claim” is necessary or part of filing an unemployment claim.

Ray Wills is the security officer at F&M Trust

Recent Articles
How to safely use digital banking
How to safely use digital banking

How to safely use digital banking

October 03, 2024 / Ray Wills

It’s never too early to save for the holidays
It’s never too early to save for the holidays

It’s never too early to save for the holidays

September 26, 2024 / Pheonix Gilbert

How to set SMART financial goals
How to set SMART financial goals

How to set SMART financial goals

September 19, 2024 / Pheonix Gilbert

Why it’s important to invest financially early in your career
Why it’s important to invest financially early in your career

Why it’s important to invest financially early in your career

September 05, 2024 / Warren Hurt

Is it a good idea to pay off my mortgage early?
Is it a good idea to pay off my mortgage early?

Is it a good idea to pay off my mortgage early?

August 22, 2024 / Erin Sunday

How to save on back-to-school shopping
How to save on back-to-school shopping

How to save on back-to-school shopping

August 15, 2024 / Megan Brindle

Avoiding the pitfalls of debt and overusing credit
Avoiding the pitfalls of debt and overusing credit

Avoiding the pitfalls of debt and overusing credit

August 08, 2024 / Dave Winters

Teaching children to save money
Teaching children to save money

Teaching children to save money

July 24, 2024 / Mary Kate Mumper

What to consider when weighing a job offer
What to consider when weighing a job offer

What to consider when weighing a job offer

July 17, 2024 / Levi Crouse

Join our e-newsletter

Sign up for our e-newsletter to get new content each month.

NOTICE: YOU ARE LEAVING F&M TRUST!

You are now leaving the F&M Trust website. Links to third-party sites are provided for your convenience. Such sites are not within our control and may not follow the same privacy, security or accessibility standards as ours. F&M Trust neither endorses nor guarantees offerings of the third-party providers, nor is F&M Trust responsible for the security, content or availability of third-party sites, their partners or advertisers.