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Transcript

Identity Theft and Unemployment Insurance Fraud · Talking FACS

• 0:01
  Welcome to talking facts what you need to know about family food,
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  finance and fitness.
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  This nationally recognized award winning podcast is hosted by the University of Kentucky family and consumer sciences extension program.
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  Our educators share research knowledge with individuals,
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  families and communities to improve quality of life.
• 0:25
  Hello and welcome to talking facts.
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  What you need to know about family food finance and fitness.
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  I am your host,
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  Mandy McCulley,
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  Family and consumer sciences extension specialist for instructional support at the University of Kentucky Today,
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  I am pleased to be joined by Nicole huff.
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  Our extension specialist for family finance and Resource management.
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  Welcome Nicole.
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  Hi,
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  thanks Mindy.
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  Our topic today is identity theft.
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  Um and we are just going to dive into this topic because so many people are very impacted by this crime that once people thought was victimless,
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  but it really is not because it impacts people young old every stage of their life and it's something that is rampant and we really,
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  really need to get a handle on it.
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  March six through 12th is National Consumer Protection Week.
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  So it's really important that we're talking about this right now and this week serves as a good reminder for us all to understand our consumer rights in ways we can avoid scams.
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  So let's just jump right in and you can talk to us about identity theft and unemployment insurance fraud.
• 1:42
  So why is this something listeners should pay attention to.
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  Yeah,
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  well Mindy like you said,
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  identity theft is something that everyone can be,
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  is acceptable to and and you know,
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  we my family has been as well recently and we are extremely vigilant in this area and so,
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  but I want to talk today about a specific area of,
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  of identity theft and that is connected to unemployment insurance fraud because we are,
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  you know smack dab in the middle of tax season,
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  we're definitely approaching um tax season and this is something that listeners should pay attention to because uh as you have received your tax documents in the mail,
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  so your your W two S and your your 10 90 nine's,
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  you may have received something that has your name on it,
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  but that does not correctly reflect benefits and compensation that you have received.
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  And so you know,
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  while National Consumer Protection Week,
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  it reminds us to be aware of scams and fraud,
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  you know,
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  we really have to practice fraud protection year round.
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  And so because of an experience that my family has had recently,
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  I thought this was an important topic to address for others who may be experiencing it too,
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  you know,
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  in Kentucky and just across the us we are really seeing um increase fraud especially related to pandemic related relief and responses since it's a widespread problem and I want to talk about it.
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  Well you just tell us a little bit exactly what happened to your family.
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  Sure.
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  Yeah.
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  And and I'm a firm believer as a financial educator that when we talk about identity theft and fraud because it can be very hard,
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  It's a topic that people don't want to talk about,
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  especially when they have experienced it personally or have been a victim.
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  But when we talk about it it it helps us prevent it from happening to someone else.
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  Where it helps give us the tools that we can use to address it if that happens to us or someone that we love.
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  So you know for me you know my husband was actually a victim of unemployment insurance fraud this year.
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  And so this you know was put on our radar a few weeks ago when he received a 10 99 G tax form in the mail That said he had received about $3,000 in unemployment compensation in 2021.
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  And We knew that he had not because he was employed all of 2021.
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  And so we were tipped off by that incorrect tax statement that he may have been the victim of identity theft.
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  And so that is what as we work through the steps to address it.
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  It is what has prompted this month's issue of money wise so that others can help address it to if they are walking in similar steps.
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  So what are those steps that you took to address it?
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  Yeah.
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  Well of course,
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  you know the financial educator in me,
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  I jumped into action immediately and um and began walking through uh the steps myself and with my husband and then writing them down so that others could could address the issue as well,
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  you know,
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  so we knew right away it was fraudulent.
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  And so the very first step is to report the identity theft.
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  And because of just the large numbers of unemployment insurance fraud that has been experienced in,
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  you know,
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  not only Kentucky but throughout the United States.
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  Um there is a website that Kentucky state officials have created just for reporting this as you always do Mindy will be sure to leave a link to money wise as well as any of the websites that we referenced during this podcast so that you in the show notes so that you or a loved one,
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  you can have all these steps detailed,
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  you know.
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  But the first place he reported it to was the Kentucky office of unemployment insurance.
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  And so that was the first that gets it on record that you are a victim of unemployment insurance fraud.
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  And so first reported to the Kentucky office of unemployment insurance but then report it to your employer because you you need to get it you know on the radar of your HR officials if you are employed that you are a victim of identity theft.
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  And so just make them aware of it.
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  And then the next two places to report to um the first is the National Center for Disaster fraud and that's a part of the U.
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  S.
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  Department of Justice and because of pandemic related unemployment insurance is a part of the disaster relief that came about during the pandemic.
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  And so if you have had identity theft fraud directly connected to this um it is part of disaster recovery fraud um and disaster relief fraud.
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  And so the Department of Justice is tracking that and so is the Federal Trade Commission.
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  And so that is the last place to report it to.
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  I mean again it seems like a lot that we have um we've taken the guesswork out.
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  It's in this this issue this month's issue of money wise and we'll link that so that you can just step by step report it to the places where you should.
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  Okay so the first thing consumers really should do is just report to let somebody know that it's happening.
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  So then what do they do?
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  Yeah.
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  So after you report it then it's important to go and review your credit report because this has you know opened the door that there has been a breach in your identity and in your in your finances.
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  And so you really want to look for other forms of suspicious activity.
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  Just just across your accounts in the first place to look is of your credit history and your credit reports.
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  And so you can request those online for free from any of the three major reporting agencies or at the annual credit report dot com.
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  And so this is a free service,
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  you do not have to pay for it and you want to make sure that you are linked to a correct source because unfortunately sometimes credit reporting um websites can mask as fraud and scams and so be sure that you are linking to a reputable source and again we will link those for you.
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  Um Once you receive your credit report you need to look through it and make sure that um there are no fraudulent transactions that there are no fraudulent accounts that have been opened in your name,
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  that everything looks right to you.
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  Um And if you do see something that looks incorrect you can dispute fraudulent transactions.
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  You can also let the agency anyone of the three agencies and it will be posted across your credit history but let them know that you're a victim of identity theft yet.
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  And then if you want you can ask them to put a fraud alert on your credit file um Just to help others just slow down the ease that that scammers can can have two opening things in your name.
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  And so um the second step mindy is to check your credit report.
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  So when you do that and you look at all of these other accounts,
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  what other financial records should be reviewed after your identity theft has occurred.
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  Yes.
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  So once you review your credit,
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  your credit report um then you need to take that time and it can be pretty daunting because so much of what we do is online but you want to take the time to secure any other online account you have.
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  So um any company that you do business with online change your password.
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  Um So that's a that's a good place to start.
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  And you may also want to include your email accounts and changing the password to your email account to your banking institutions,
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  your credit card companies,
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  any other lenders.
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  Even if you if you have online bill pay with your um utility company or other streaming services that any online company that you do business with take the time to change your passwords and then also review any financial statements that you have received,
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  especially with your bank,
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  your credit card company.
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  You want to review to make sure that nobody has slipped in small purchases or that there isn't any airness charges made in your name.
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  And so again you can dispute those.
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  We can include steps um you know to to help you dispute those if if you needed that's included with the information that we provide.
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  But first you just gotta look,
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  you got to comb through your accounts,
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  secure those and then monitor the activity to make sure everything looks correct.
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  And so then when it comes to filing your taxes,
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  how should identity that victims move forward when it comes to filing taxes?
• 11:12
  Yeah.
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  Well I know everyone is in a rush to file their taxes each year and but you don't need to stall and so if you like my husband received received a form that was incorrect and you have reported it then you've done what you need to do and you need to move forward with filing your taxes.
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  And so if you received a statement that was incorrect like the 10 99 G.
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  Form and you did not receive any benefits only report what you received.
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  So move forward with filing your taxes do not include that the incorrect statement as you file only report what you received.
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  And and and then you if you'd like you can apply for an Rs.
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  Identity protection pin code.
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  And that gives you a six digit number that again helps prevent thieves from filing tax returns in your name.
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  And so that's an extra step you can take with the Rs to safeguard your your account and so file your taxes right away.
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  I know that there may be a delay in the processing of your taxes if um if your account is under review.
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  And so that's a good thing.
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  You want this to be under review.
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  Um But just know that it could delay the window in which you you receive a return on your taxes and then you know another account to review.
• 12:39
  Mindy is the is your Social Security administration your earnings.
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  And so you want to make sure they're correct.
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  Now you can call and you may not get through realistically you're probably not going to get through but you can try and you can also search for a Social security office in your area and that may be easier to speak to a person when you when you're dealing with a local agency.
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  Um But before you contact them you can get online on S.
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  S.
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  A.
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  Dot gov slash my account and can create a secure account where you can review your Social security earnings.
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  And so this is this is a way for you to make sure that that is correct as well.
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  So review online first and then if if there is anything that looks incorrect then talk with your Social Security administration with a representative about writing that.
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  And if you need to again if if if it looks like your Social Security number has been used in fraud,
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  you want to work with the Social Security administration to correct that.
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  Well I think this has all been great advice.
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  Um and as we wrap up today,
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  I think it's interesting that here we are just two people but both of us have actually been victims of identity theft many years ago,
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  my checking account number was stolen and somebody in north Carolina was writing checks on my checking account.
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  And so I know that this is something that leaves you feeling very exposed.
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  Um And and you you just feel like there's nothing that you can do about it,
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  especially when you don't know that it's happening until all of a sudden something starts turning up like a 10 99 G.
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  Form or checks start showing up on your account that you know you did not.
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  Right.
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  And so what advice do you have for someone who might be currently experiencing something,
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  something similar?
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  Yeah you're so you're so right.
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  Mindy and again I think that it's happened to both of us shows that it can happen to anybody regardless of how vigilant you are.
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  And so and it can leave you feeling so vulnerable.
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  It can be frustrating because there are so many checks and balances to make sure you write everything your credit may um You may have to repair that to reestablish that you may have to fight fraudulent charges.
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  You may have to try to get money back like in your in your case and it can be very frustrating,
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  just know that you're not alone and that that you may not have done anything incorrect.
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  Um It just is scammers are good at what they do.
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  So you know first just remember safeguard your account,
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  your personal information and your finances as quickly as possible.
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  Um and then the Federal Trade Commission has created really good comprehensive step by step checklist for a variety of identity theft.
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  So I've mostly spoken today about unemployment insurance,
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  identity theft.
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  Um but there are so many unfortunately,
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  but there are great step by step guides and we will link those in the show notes and on money wise.
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  Um just to make sure that you have covered all of your,
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  your basis.
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  And so just and and don't forget reach out to your local cooperative extension office in your county for more information.
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  They can provide you with a copy of money wise.
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  They can provide you with information to help make sure that that you are safeguarding yourself that you are being vigilant and that if you have been a victim that there are steps that you can take two to right the wrongs that have been done to you.
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  Thank you.
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  Nicole.
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  I know that our listeners are going to benefit from all of the information that you have shared today and we will look forward to having you back again for more money wise tips.
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  Thank you.
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  mm hmm.