Unemployment scams: Red flags someone stole your identity
The COVID-19 pandemic has left a devastating economic impact on working Americans. More than 40 million unemployment claims were filed at its peak, and that’s not even counting gig workers and self-employed people.
If you or someone you know needs to file, there is a way to speed up the process. Tap or click here for an app that can help.
The sheer number of unemployed has led to an outbreak of criminals filing fake unemployment claims in unsuspecting victims’ names. Not only that, but cybercriminals are now creating spoofed unemployment sites, luring victims there by sending spam text messages and emails to steal personal information. Keep reading to find out what’s going with these dangerous schemes.
Scammers are benefiting from your benefits
According to a bulletin posted by the FBI National Press Office, a significant spike in fraudulent unemployment claims has been detected amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Agents say these claims result from outright identity theft, with perpetrators using stolen data like Social Security cards and bank account numbers.
How are scammers getting this data in the first place? Well, the FBI believes it has something to do with the deluge of phishing scams making the rounds over the last several months. Aside from phishing, there has also been an uptick in malware activity, including programs that spy on what you type and scan your system for personal data.
RELATED: Tap or click here to see how bad the scams have gotten during the pandemic
Phishing scams that trick you into sharing personal data are only one route to identity theft, however. For many scammers, deceptive phone calls for bogus tests and treatments are enough to procure personally-identifying information.
Beyond that, it’s even easier to simply download Tor and visit a Dark Web marketplace. There, you can buy an entire person’s identity for less than $2,000 in some cases. Tap or click here to see how much your personal data sells for online.
The worst part of all this: If someone fraudulently files for unemployment in your name, you won’t be able to collect if you actually lose your job. The fraudulent claim will gum up the works while verification and investigations take place, leaving you with no money to help ease the burden of job loss.
How protect from phishing scams
According to the Department of Justice, these phishing messages look like they’re from a state workforce agency (SWA) and give people links to fake sites. When people enter their sensitive personal information on fake sites, scammers can use the information for identity theft.
This text is a cleverly disguised shopping scam - don't click!
Are you waiting on a package delivery right now? So are thousands of other Americans — and thanks to delivery services like Amazon and package trackers, we have a pretty good idea of when our goods will arrive.
That’s the reason scammers are changing tactics towards delivery notifications. By making you think a text is related to something you ordered, scammers can easily trick you into opening phishing messages and other nasty surprises. Tap or click here to see how to tell if your delivery notifications are real.
Privacy checkup: 5 simple ways to protect yourself in just a few minutes
Cybersecurity may seem unnecessary for the average gadget owner, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s actually important for everyone, and ignoring or downplaying the importance of online security can be a path to disaster.