BOSTON — Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell and Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones warned Massachusetts residents this week about third-party websites attempting to scam those seeking unemployment insurance (UI) information or trying to access their accounts on the official UI Online system.
These deceptive third-party sites are built to resemble the legitimate UI Online interface but have no connection to the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA). Campbell and Jones warned that providing details on such sites could lead to payment diversions or other types of fraud.
“We encourage anyone looking for information on employment insurance or trying to access their online account to remain vigilant,” saod Campbell. “That means monitoring your account, being mindful of fraudulent links, and reporting suspicious activity.”
“DUA takes fraudulent claims seriously and we are working closely with state and federal law enforcement agencies to protect claimants’ information and to remove these fraudulent websites,” said Jones. She added that, “claimants should make sure they are using the official Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance website, Mass.gov/DUA, to conduct any transaction with the DUA.”
The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development and the Office of the Attorney General provide the following tips for those with active UI claims, or those seeking to file claims, to help protect their account information:
- Avoid using any unofficial third-party websites, especially those that end in .com to ensure that their personal and financial information is protected.
- Check your UI profile information often (at least 1x per week), including your log-in, password, name, contact information.
- Be alert to any unknown email sources containing links. Never click on a link unless you are expecting one or you know the sender and recognize the email address – this may be a phishing scheme to obtain access to your computer.
- Create security credentials that you will remember but are hard for others to guess. Do not give your security credentials to ANYONE – DUA will never contact you asking for that information.
- Responses to requests from DUA should only be uploaded through claimant’s secure accounts at https://uionline.detma.org/Claimant/Core/Login.ASPX or https://ui-cares-act.mass.gov/PUA/_/.
- Report any changes or suspicious activity involving your UI claim immediately to DUA by calling (877) 626-6800.
- Monitor communications from DUA often in case you receive a message that a change has been made to your account or to make you aware of an ongoing scheme that has affected claims or warnings from other UI agencies.
- DUA WILL NOT ask you to verify your eligibility for unemployment benefits, or for personal information by email, phone, or text message. If you receive an email, phone call, or text message and you are unsure if it came from DUA, contact them at (877) 626-6800.
- If you notice that your payment or contact information has been changed without your knowledge, make sure to change it back to the original information and report those discrepancies or changes not made by you immediately to the DUA by calling (877) 626-6800.
- If you believe someone is using your identity to falsely claim unemployment benefits, please complete the secured form here to alert DUI.
