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“DEAR OHIOAN: According to our records, you have applied for and/or received pandemic unemployment benefits.” As I haven’t been to Ohio in more than 20 years, I knew something was amiss. It was highly likely I was the victim of identify fraud. After some investigation, I found out someone had been receiving unemployment benefits in my name since March 2021.
I’m hardly the only person victimized by this fraud. In a recent report, Ohio Auditor Keith Faber estimated that $3.8 billion in fraudulent unemployment payments and overpayments had been made since March 2020. The fraud has been so widespread that claims have been made in the names Ohio’s governor and lieutenant governor.
To prevent further fraud, I reported the matter to the state of Ohio. Initially, I was skittish about filing the fraud report online because I had to provide my Social Security number, but I figured the online system was the safest way to report the fraud—and certainly better than giving my personal information over the phone, which had backfired on me before.
Next, I reviewed my credit report to ensure that no one had parlayed my personal information into an even bigger fraud. Fortunately, there was no unusual credit activity. But because someone obviously had my personal information, I decided I’d better monitor my credit activity more closely.
I chatted with a colleague about available services, and ended up selecting the Complete ID service offered by Costco. Costco partners with Experian to provide members with credit monitoring, identity protection and restoration services, which now costs me $8.99 a month. I also pay another $2.99 a month to have my two children’s information monitored.
I hate to say it, but you were taken by fraud again. Those credit monitoring firms are doing things that you can do yourself for free. Just freeze all your accounts and monitor yourself.
Exactly, find out how to do it at: https://clark.com/credit/credit-freeze-and-thaw-guide
mmm… Makes one wonder if Experian instigated the data breach for a new revenue stream? Personally they should provide it free for life to those whose personal info was impacted.
On behalf of Ohioans, sorry.