Unemployment Insurance Fraud

Fraud Unit Investigators require the following information in order to pursue a tip:

• First and last names of those allegedly committing fraud, along with physical descriptions
• Place of employment (name and location)

Additionally, the following information is helpful but not required:

• Social Security numbers of those allegedly committing fraud
• Description of vehicles involved, if applicable

Common types of Claimant Fraud:

• Reported they looked for work when they didn’t
• Claimed to be available for work when they were not (i.e. on vacation, injured, etc.)
• Inaccurately reporting hours and/or earnings
• Is also receiving workers’ compensation
• Working while collecting benefits and not reporting earnings or hours worked
• Is falsifying or knowingly failing to disclose required information
• Is not reporting cash wages earned
• Is not reporting payments from a former employer (i.e. “back pay for banked hours” or pension/retirement payments)
• Committing identity theft by using another person’s identity to file a claim for benefits

Common types of Employer Fraud:

• Aiding someone in filing a fraudulent claim
• Coercing, persuading, or inducing an employee to file a false claim
• Providing false information regarding a worker’s separation from employment
• Failing to report a separation from work by an employee
• Falsifying or knowingly failing to provide accurate information
• Misclassifying an employee and the work performed (i.e. labeling the employee as an Independent Contractor (IC) when the employee does not have an IC Exemption Certificate)
• Employer has employees but is not reporting those employees to UI
• Not reporting wages earned by an employee, or under reporting an employee’s wages