Newly idled Americans have filed millions of unemployment claims during the COVID-19 outbreak. Calls to state employment insurance services have at times overwhelmed phone lines and websites. That’s created opportunity for fraudsters.

One of the latest scams involve fraudsters using social engineering tactics, such as impersonation and manipulation. They befriend individuals and gain trust to the point where they ask for your account information to help them direct deposit bogus unemployment benefits into your account.  Then they ask for you to send part (or all) of the funds to them.

While you may believe you are helping by allowing the direct deposit funds to be received into your account, there are consequences if you accept and withdraw the bogus funds, such as legal indictments, fines and restitution. Please stay vigilant at all times.