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Fraudulent Unemployment Insurance Claims & Identity Theft

Fraudulent unemployment insurance claims have become increasingly prevalent across Illinois and the United States. If an unemployment claim is filed in your name that you did not submit, it may indicate that your personal information has been compromised and that you may be a victim of identity theft. Individuals who file fraudulent claims typically obtain enough personal information to impersonate another person and submit a claim under that individual's identity.

If you receive a notice, correspondence, or tax form related to unemployment benefits that you did not apply for or receive, such as a Form 1099-G, promptly report the matter to the issuing state agency and to Human Resources at HRBP@northwestern.edu, and take immediate steps to protect your identity.

If Northwestern receives notice of an unemployment claim filed using the identity of a current employee and our records indicate that the employee is actively working, Human Resources will reach out to verify whether the claim is legitimate. If you confirm that you did not file the claim, we will provide guidance on appropriate next steps and work with the University's third-party unemployment administrator to notify the applicable state agency that the claim has been reported as potentially fraudulent.

The following information and resources outline steps you should take if you believe you are the victim of a fraudulent unemployment insurance claim or related identity theft.

  1. Report the fraudulent claim directly to the state unemployment agency.
    Reporting fraud to the state agency is a critical step in protecting your identity and ensuring the claim is investigated and removed from your record. Follow the reporting process established by the state agency that issued the notice.

    For Illinois, the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) administers unemployment benefits. If you receive communication from IDES regarding a claim you did not file, report it immediately through the IDES online fraud reporting system.

    Additional information, including a state-by-state list of unemployment insurance fraud reporting resources, is available in the U.S. Department of Justice Unemployment Insurance Fraud Consumer Protection Guide.
  2. If you have not already been contacted by Human Resources, notify us at HRBP@northwestern.edu.
    Northwestern will work with the University's third-party unemployment administrator to report the fraudulent claim to IDES or the applicable state unemployment agency on the University's behalf. As part of this process, we may ask you to prepare a letter confirming that you did not file a claim for unemployment insurance.

    However, Northwestern's report does not replace your responsibility to report the fraud directly to the state agency as described in Step 1.

    Note: In most cases, receiving multiple letters from the IDES does not mean a second, separate fraudulent incident has occurred. Typically, multiple letters are additional correspondence relating to the original, fraudulent unemployment claim.
  3. Do not use fraudulent benefit debit cards.
    If you receive a debit card associated with a fraudulent unemployment claim, do not activate or use it. Destroy and retain the card and any accompanying documentation for your records and follow the reporting instructions provided by the applicable state agency. If benefits are improperly accessed or used, you may be required to repay those funds.
  4. Protect your identity.
    The following important steps are recommended for cases where you are concerned or suspicious that your identity has been stolen.

The steps above are general recommendations and may not be necessary in every situation. Individuals should evaluate their circumstances and follow any additional guidance provided by the applicable state agency, financial institutions, law enforcement, or other relevant authorities.