Report unemployment benefits fraud

Learn how to report suspected unemployment benefits fraud to the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA).

Report fraud if you're a worker

If you believe someone has fraudulently applied for unemployment benefits with your information, report the fraud online or by phone at [phone].

You will need:

• Your name, date of birth, and last 6 digits of your Social Security number
• Your address, phone number, and email address
• The Claimant ID, Claim ID, or Letter ID in the notice you received from DUA 

Report fraud online 

If you believe you're a victim of fraud

1. Take steps to protect your credit report and financial accounts, including:
   • Freezing your credit report
   • Filing a police report
   • Placing a fraud alert in your credit file
2. Notify your employer. They can report suspected fraud as part of the fact-checking process with DUA.
3. Take notes about all conversations and keep copies of all records. 

Report fraud if you're an employer

If you’re an employer and you believe an unemployment claim was filed fraudulently: 

• Log in to your Unemployment Services for Employers account and respond to any requests for information about existing claims. DUA will ask if you suspect fraud as part of this process.
• Encourage employees to report fraudulent claims filed with their information
• You can also report suspected fraud by calling DUA at [phone]. 

What happens after you report fraud

The DUA Program Integrity team investigates all reports of fraud. When fraud is reported: 

• The claim is locked and DUA will not issue any benefit payments
• If any payments have been made, DUA will not report that you earned this as income to the IRS
  • If you already received a 1099-G for this claim, DUA can send you a corrected 1099-G
• If you apply for unemployment benefits in the future, this will not impact your eligibility
• Employers will not be charged for this claim
  • If you already received charges for this claim, you can protest it in your Online Services for Employers account (as long as you responded to the first request for information about a claim in a timely manner)
• DUA will share relevant information with law enforcement 

How to identify unemployment fraud

Protecting your information is our top priority. DUA may send you texts, emails, or letters about suspected fraud. 

Here are a few common scams to look out for: 

• Charging fees: DUA will never ask you to pay a fee to file your claim
• Fake websites: Some websites try to mimic official Massachusetts websites:
  • The Commonwealth's official website is Mass.gov
  • The Unemployment Services for Workers website is unemployment.mass.gov/Claimants
  • The Unemployment Services for Employers website is unemployment.mass.gov/Employers
• Emails and texts: DUA will send updates about your claim based on your communication preferences, but will never ask you for private information (Social Security numbers, bank accounts, credit cards, etc)

More info

Find out how to protect yourself from identity theft and what to do if you suspect someone is using your information fraudulently.

How to report identity theft