The state of Ohio has reported a large amount of unemployment fraud cases in the past several months.

If you received a notice regarding unemployment that doesn't apply to you, there may have been a fraudulent claim filed under your name. If you received a PIN in the mail, a 1099-G, or your employer received a notice that you filed an unemployment claim, you need to report the fraud to the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services. Here is a link to the online form to complete and submit.

You also need to call the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213 and alert them of the fraudulent unemployment claim. Additionally, you should file a police report in the city where you live.

There is a separate form for a business to use to report Ohio unemployment fraud. So if you are a business and received a notice that an employee has filed a claim, and you verified that this is not the case, use this form to report the fraud.

If there is a claim in an employer’s name for an individual who never actually worked for the company, you won't have the appropriate information to report the fraud as it asks for the employee’s birth date, Social Security number, etc.  If this is the case, you should fill out the Request to Employer for Separation Information by answering question #26 stating that the employee never worked for your company, that this is a fraudulent claim, and that you’re not able to report this online due to lack of information.  Then fill in the box with your contact information should ODJFS need to reach out to you.

For additional information and answers to your questions, go to https://unemploymenthelp.ohio.gov/IdentityTheft/.

If you or your business has been a victim of unemployment fraud, we strongly encourage you to immediately takes these steps to protect yourself and/or your business.

If we can help you in any way, let us know.