Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell and Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones issued a warning to Massachusetts residents about fraudulent third-party unemployment websites and scams. These deceptive schemes potentially exploit those looking for assistance.
Mass.gov reports that impostor sites, or "mimic sites," pretend to be the official UI Online website for the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA). These sites lure users into giving the personal information with appearances quite similar to the official site.
Caution is urged by Attorney General Campbell and Secretary Jones for claimants when accessing information about unemployment insurance or their accounts on the UI Online system. They clarified that information provided on these fake websites is unsecured, and scammers could misuse it for identity theft or to fraudulently divert payments.
The significance of vigilance is highlighted by Campbell who said, “We encourage those looking for information on employment insurance or accessing their online account to be vigilant. Monitor your account, be wary of fraudulent links, and report suspicious activity immediately.”
"DUA takes fraudulent claims seriously. We work closely with law enforcement agencies to protect claimants’ information and to remove fraudulent websites,” said Secretary Jones, reaffirming the Department's commitment. She further suggested claimants should use the official Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance website, Mass.gov/DUA, for all UI transactions.
Claimants are advised to adopt measures that can protect their online account information from tricksters. Mass.gov gives essential tips to avoid becoming a scam victim like using official websites, cautiously dealing with unfamiliar email sources, creating secure login credentials, and reporting any suspicious activity or changes on your UI claim to DUA immediately.
For further protection, concerned customers can contact the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation by calling their Consumer Hotline at (617) 973-8787 or (888) 283-3757 (toll-free within Massachusetts).
A recommended end step is to file a complaint through the Attorney General's website if looking to report a scam or having too concerns, according to the Mass.gov article.
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