Report Fraud to DES 

Report suspected unemployment fraud using our online Fraud Report Form.

You may also call the DES Fraud Hotline at 919-701-3543. 


Fraud and ID Verification

Do not complete ID verification if you believe you are a victim of fraud.

 

Fraud from Misuse of Personal Information

Either you or your employer should report suspected unemployment fraud if you think someone used your personal information to apply for unemployment benefits. This allows DES to look into it and stop benefit payments if needed. 

You may get a bill for overpayment of benefits, but you are not responsible for the payment and billing will stop when the claim is verified fraudulent. You can ask for information about a fraudulent claim by using our Request for Release of Information Form.
•    Learn how to Protect Your Unemployment Insurance Account
 

Report Unemployment Fraud

Report suspected unemployment fraud using our Fraud Reporting Form or call the DES Fraud Hotline at 919-701-3543.

Our benefits system may automatically send you a bill for overpayment of benefits. If you have been a victim of fraud, don’t worry! You are not liable for the payment.

Requests for information about a fraudulent claim may be submitted to DES using the Request for Release of Information Form.

 

Protect Your Business and Employees from Unemployment Insurance Fraud

Employers should review all notices from DES about unemployment benefit charges and employee separations, and wage audits. They should also report errors and unusual unemployment claims using our Fraud Reporting Form. 
•    Learn more about Preventing Fraud.
 

Tab/Accordion Items

Identity Theft/Imposter Fraud

Fraudsters use personal identifying information (PII), without you knowing, to apply for and get unemployment benefits. PII can be stolen through data breaches, email phishing, impersonation scams, and other methods.  

Fraud Overpayments

Fraud overpayments occur when a claimant gives false information or withholds information so they can receive unemployment benefits (ex., a claimant continues to get benefits after returning to work and does not report their wages for purpose of getting unemployment benefits they are not entitled to get).

The FBI says to look out for the following activities:

  • Being contacted about unemployment forms when you have not applied for benefits.
  • Transactions you did not approve on your bank or credit card statements about unemployment benefits.
  • Fees in filing or qualifying for unemployment insurance.
  • Unasked questions about unemployment benefits.
  • Fake websites and social media pages that look like those of government agencies.
     

Take the following steps if you believe you have been a victim of identity theft:

  • File a police report.
  • Include only wages you got when you file your income taxes. Do not wait to get a corrected 1099-G to file your taxes. DES reports your unemployment benefits to the government using IRS Form 1099-G.
    • The processing of your tax return should not be delayed while your report of identity theft is under investigation.
    • Do not file another tax return if you already filed your taxes. The IRS will send information about your next steps. Find updates and more information at: Identity Theft and Unemployment Benefits.
  • Check your credit report for activity you do not recognize. You can request a free credit report from Equifax, Experian, Transunion through AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-322-8228. Visit the Credit Report page on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) consumer site for more information about protecting your credit.
  • Report unemployment COVID-19 pandemic identity theft to the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud. Filing a NCDF Disaster Complaint Form helps law enforcement stop theft and notifies the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.
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