Scammers are zeroing in on people who have filed workers’ compensation claims, the Utah Labor Commission warned Thursday, posing as officials or attorneys and demanding cash to “release” benefits. The con has surfaced across multiple states and often looks alarmingly official, with fraudsters using forged logos and spoofed contact information. Officials are telling claimants to treat any surprise demand for payment with extreme skepticism and to verify everything before responding.
What Officials Are Saying
Eric Olsen, communications director for the Utah Labor Commission, told KUTV, “We want Utahns to know that this is a scam,” emphasizing that no legitimate workers’ compensation process requires people to pay money up front. The commission told the station that impostors have posed as Utah Labor Commission representatives, its Industrial Accidents Division, the U.S. Department of Labor, local courts, and private attorneys to win trust and shake victims down for cash.
How the Scam Hooks Victims
According to KUTV, scammers reach out by text, phone call, email and even video call, often flashing official-looking graphics and spoofed email addresses so the pitch looks real. They frequently insist that victims pay with gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency and claim the money is needed to settle a claim or release benefits. The commission says demands like that should be treated as bright-red warning signs.
Part of a Bigger Scam Pattern
The Federal Trade Commission has flagged government impersonation scams as one of its top complaint categories and warns that scammers like payment methods such as gift cards or cryptocurrency because the money is difficult to trace and recover. The FTC’s consumer guidance urges people to hang up on suspicious calls, avoid clicking links in unexpected messages and report any suspected impersonation scam to the agency.
How To Check It Out and Report It
The Labor Commission advises anyone unsure about a message to verify it directly with the Industrial Accidents Division, either online or by calling 801-530-6800, and notes that official Utah Labor Commission emails will come from an @utah.gov address. Utahns can report possible fraud to the state’s consumer protection team through Scams.Utah.Gov, and the FTC takes reports at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
For injured workers, the bottom line is simple: if someone tells you to pay to get your benefits, it is almost certainly a scam. Confirm any request through official state contacts before sharing personal information or money.
