Identity theft cases on the rise in Clinton County, elsewhere

LAMAR TOWNSHIP, PA – Lamar state police reported two cases of identity theft on Monday. In both cases the victims were females from Lamar Township who said someone used their personal information to file an unemployment claim.

Those incidents are the latest in a continuing string of attempted identity thefts in Pennsylvania. The continued scams have prompted the state Department of Labor and Industry to put out a scam alert.

According to the department, unemployment fishing attempts are at an all-time high. The theft of these dollars reduces what is available to pay legitimate claims and hurts everyone in Pennsylvania when it causes an increase in unemployment insurance premiums.

Before clicking on any link or responding to suspicious messages, claimants are asked to review all verified UC contact methods.

What to do when someone files for unemployment benefits using your identity:
• File a form online:
Unemployment compensation fraud
Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) fraud

• File via phone:
Call the PA Fraud Hotline at 800-692-7469.

• File a report with police:

Contact police in the municipality you resided in at the time the unemployment fraud occurred/benefits in question were paid. A copy of the filed police report must also be provided to the Office of Unemployment Compensation.

• Start a recovery plan with the Federal Trade Commission at identitytheft.gov.