SPRINGFIELD, Ill. � The Illinois Department of Employment Security has found and stopped nearly 1 million cases of fraud since March 1.
Four thousand calls regarding identity theft has become a daily norm for IDES. A significant amount of those calls are employers trying to help workers hit by fraudsters.
“Reporting this to the agency gives us the opportunity to very quickly stop the fraudulent claim,� said Acting IDES Director Kristin Richards. “It also gives us the opportunity to refer what we have learned about those claims to law enforcement.�
Richards says the department’s response time has significantly improved since the state started an “all hands on deck� approach to attack the issue.
“Putting additional call center agents around this, training our people statewide on how to identify and stop a fraudulent claim has paid off,� Richards explained. “Now, I’m happy to report that we’re really returning those calls on a day in, day out basis.�
Walking through the process
The majority of fraudulent claims are linked to previous data breaches and cyberattacks. If you receive a UI Finding Letter or KeyBank debit card, you should immediately call the number on the IDES letter or go to the website.
IDES recently streamlined the process with a on the website for anyone caught in the fraud scheme. Richards says the department can shut down the claim once they receive the form with your name and claimant number.
“We’re continuing to look at bringing technological resources to bear along with our talented human capital here at the agency to fight the fraudsters,� Richards emphasized.
Unfortunately, someone filed a fraudulent claim under my name last week. After receiving a letter from IDES, I reported the fraud on the department’s website. Anyone in this situation must fill out a form with the claimant ID given in the letter in order to get a call back from IDES. While some people are still waiting for help, an IDES employee called me within 24 hours.
“That is not the average�
“If they’ve gotten it down to one day, that is fantastic. I would applaud them for that,� said Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro). “But, that is not the average and that certainly is an outlier.�
Bryant’s office has helped many Illinoisans since the initial data breach in May. That started shortly after the federal government created the Pandemic Unemployment System to help contractors and 10-99 workers get benefits. Bryant appreciates efforts from Richards and IDES staff, but she says Illinois needs to do better for residents left waiting.
“I totally get it that this is bigger than just Illinois,� Bryant added. “But, the fact that you can’t get an IDES human being on the phone is a continued problem.�
Bryant says it’s past time for employees to return to IDES offices so concerned citizens can meet with someone face-to-face. Richards says she also wants staff to return to their offices. However, she feels the department needs to find a safe way for claimants and employees to interact first.
“Right now, we do have people working in a blend of remote and coming in to work. Every lens that we’re viewing through now with the agency is one of how we’re increasing productivity,� Richards explained. “How are we continuing to make an impact for people that are coming to us for service and try to reduce those wait times? As long as we remain productive and safe in that environment, that’s how we’re going to continue the course. But, we are of course making plans for what it will look like in the future.�
