Unemployment Fraud

There has been an increase in unemployment claims this year due to COIVD-19. Unfortunately, this has also led to an increase in fraud/identity theft. See the steps below that you and your employee should take if this happens to you:

Illinois

Employer

1. Follow the instructions on the notice of claim letter that you receive and immediately protest the claim by fax, mail, or using your SIDES account online within 10 days of the notice date. You will need to provide a signed letter, a copy of the unemployment notice which includes the claimant’s name and Social Security number, and any documentation supporting this claim is fraudulent (i.e. recent paystubs if they are still employed, copy of police report, signed statement from employee that this was claim was not initiated by them, etc.).
2. Send one e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with a spreadsheet that includes the following information (all of this information is shown on the Notice of Claim):
3. Claimant’s first and last name
4. Employer name
5. Claim ID

Employee

1. The employee who has been a victim of identity theft should contact IDES at 800-814-0513 or using the CONTACT FORM online. Do one, NOT BOTH.
2. The employee should file a police report.
3. The employee should check their credit report, bank accounts, and credit cards to see if suspicious activity is present.
4. The employee should check their credit report by going to Annual Credit Report and consider a credit freeze. They should also check the Federal Trade Commission FAQ on credit freezes for more information.

IDES Reporting Unemployment Insurance Fraud Info: https://www2.illinois.gov/ides/Pages/Reporting_Unemployment_Insurance_Fraud.aspx

Indiana

Employer

1. Follow the instructions on the notice of claim letter that you receive and immediately protest the claim by fax within 10 days of the notice date. You will need to provide a signed letter, a copy of the unemployment notice which includes the claimant’s name and Social Security number, and any documentation supporting this claim is fraudulent (i.e. recent paystubs if they are still employed, copy of police report, signed statement from employee that this was claim was not initiated by them, etc.).
2. A copy of the unemployment insurance protest form can be found HERE. By clicking on the link, it will prompt you to download it to your computer. This form CANNOT be saved once complete, but a hardcopy must be printed and faxed to 317-233-5499.

Employee

1. The employee who has been a victim of identity theft should contact IDWD by completing the fraudulent UI claim form online.
2. The employee should file a police report, by filling out this form and e-mailing it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
3. The employee should check their credit report, bank accounts, and credit cards to see if suspicious activity is present.
4. The employee should check their credit report by going to Annual Credit Report and consider a credit freeze. They should also check the Federal Trade Commission FAQ on credit freezes for more information.

IDWD Reporting Unemployment Insurance Fraud Info: https://www.in.gov/dwd/2464.htm

If you have any questions, please reach out your consultant at PBM.