The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) was made aware of new phishing attacks targeting Illinoisans. Bad actors posing as IDES representatives are sending emails to victims, designed to trick Illinoisans into disclosing their personal information. These scams falsely advertise an increase in weekly benefits.
It is critical for claimants and victims of fraud to remain vigilant to detect fraudulent correspondence:
• Follow steps from the FTC to recognize and avoid phishing scams. The examples below include tell-tale signs of a phishing scam, such as referring to the “Division of Employment Security” as opposed to the “Department of Employment Security” and arriving from an untrustworthy email address.
• Strengthen and protect account information. Claimants should ensure they maintain a strong password, and never share their personal information with an untrustworthy source. Additional tips are available on IDES’s fraud webpage.
Additional Resources
IDES: Fraud and Identity Theft Resources
US Department of Justice: Press Release on New Unemployment Schemes
USDOL Office of the Inspector General: Unemployment Insurance Phishing Fraud Alert