Port Huron, MI — Beware of unemployment scams. Filing for unemployment continues to be a headache for many Michiganders. Making matters worse, scammers are looking to prey on desperate out-of-work residents. The scammers are using social media, especially Facebook, to offer their “help” with the benefits process.
According to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, the offer to help may actually be a ploy to get applicants to commit fraud. She said, “Do not under any circumstance pay a fee or offer up your personal information to someone on social media.”
Besides requesting fees, these criminals can be seeking personal information to commit identity theft and to steal benefits. They may also be offering false information that can lead to denial of benefits or even criminal or administrative penalties.
Unemployment offices are still closed statewide, and residents seeking benefits must file by phone or online. Suspected fraud resulted in 340,000 accounts being frozen in early June. A state task force is now working on weeding out fraudulent claims from those of the truly jobless.
Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland
