Wellesley Police Officers have taken many Unemployment Assistance Fraud reports in the past few weeks. Numerous other cities and towns in the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts have reported similar events. The fraud consists of someone using a stolen identity to falsely claim for unemployment benefits, and then those benefits are subsequently redirected. The fraud is well organized and widespread, using stolen identities from previous data breaches.
In response to this nationwide scam, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has launched a web site/web portal where you can report the fraud directly. Anytime you believe your identity may have been stolen and utilized, you should also report that to the police department where you reside. The Wellesley Police Department will take a report of any incidents of identity theft. To report it, call 781-235-1212 and a police officer will call you back.
This is a direct link to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts web portal where the fraud can be reported. Click HERE.
Further information (summary) from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts regarding the fraud:
The Department of Unemployment Assistance’s (DUA) top priority is to protect unemployment claimants and make sure money disbursed through the system is going to valid unemployment claims.
Criminal enterprises using stolen personal information from earlier national data breaches have been attempting to file fraudulent unemployment claims through the DUA system. This is part of a national unemployment fraud scheme.
If you believe someone has applied for unemployment benefits using your personal information, use our secure fraud reporting form to alert us or call the DUA customer service department at (877) 626-6800.