Romeoville Police Warns Residents Of Unemployment Benefits Scam

ROMEOVILLE, IL — More than a dozen Romeoville residents have been targeted by two increasingly popular scams, prompting police to issue a warning to residents.

At least 11 residents have filed reports with the Romeoville Police Department after receiving debit cards in the mail to access unemployment benefits they never applied for. Three additional reports have been filed by residents stating someone used their information to attempt to file for unemployment benefits, but do not mention receiving the debit cards, police said.

Unemployment systems throughout the country are being targeted by fraudsters amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to Illinois Department of Employment Security officials. Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Wednesday that state officials are working with federal authorities to investigate "the nationwide fraud scheme impacting each state's federal pandemic unemployment assistance program."

Any resident who receives a debit card or unemployment insurance letter in the mail from the IDES but did not apply for benefits "has likely been a target of this fraud," Pritzker said.

Romeoville police urged residents to immediately call IDES to report identity theft if they receive a letter or debit card they did not apply for. Residents should then fill a police report with the Romeoville Police Department, as well as an online complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at identitytheft.gov. Residents should not activate the debit card that was mailed to them, police said.

The fraud scheme adds to the problems the state's unemployment system is facing after being "overwhelmed" by the unprecedented need for benefits amid the coronavirus pandemic, Pritzker said.

"This is a problem being experienced all across the country right now because the national program was poorly designed and susceptible to fraud," Pritzker said.

The Will County Sheriff's office also warned residents after receiving more than 30 complaints during the last two weeks.

According to the IDES, the recently reported fraud incidents are likely due to a prior cyber hack or data breach, such as the Equifax breach. The sheriff's office said according to IDES, it's imperative that you take the following steps if you haven't yet filed an unemployment claim and have erroneously received an unemployment debit card or UI finding letter in the mail:

• Immediately call IDES at 800-814-0513
• When prompted select: The English or Spanish language option
• Select option 1 for claimants; select option 5 to report identity theft
• Or you can go to the IDES website and file a claim
• Have your credit report checked for possible suspicious activity and post a fraud alert.
• Place an alert on your Social Security Number with the three major credit bureaus.

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