The New York State Department of Labor has launched an online tool to help combat fraud.
Specifically, the kind of unemployment fraud that some have been left to deal with this tax season.
Fraudsters have been stealing the identities of New Yorkers and claiming benefits on their behalf. Many of those who were victims of this type of fraud didn’t know they were until receiving a tax document in the mail.
The online tool is called “ID Me” and clarifies a process that has been confusing. Altogether DOL officials estimate that around 425,000 fraudulent claims worth $5.5 billion have been stopped.
If you’ve been on the receiving end of one of these scams, you must contact the Department of Labor by phone to dispute it.
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