Unemployment Insurance Scam Identified in Maine

*Individuals receive false emails and ask for claimant's credit card number*

AUGUSTA, Maine - The Maine Department of Labor (MDOL) warns people filing for unemployment insurance benefits of a scam that attempts to obtain credit card information.

Labor Commissioner Jeanne Paquette warned claimants, "This scam is targeting people who are vulnerable because they may be in a difficult financial situation due to being unemployed. Beware of suspicious emails and call us anytime if you have questions. There is no charge for filing for unemployment in Maine and we will never ask for your credit card number."

The scam attempts to lure claimants into responding to an email looking as if it is sent from the "Unemployment Advisory Department" with the email address "support@us-benefits.org." The email has the subject line "Required Documents to File Unemployment in ME," and references a specific town in Maine in the body of the email.

The email contains several spelling errors. It states that, by clicking the link in the email, the claimant
can avoid a delay in benefits and "maxize [sic] the amount of benefits." The email is signed, "Support Team, Employment Advisory Department" and says that, "You are receiving this email because you requested information online."

"Don't respond or click on the link in any email from support@us-benefits.org. Do not provide personal or financial information to anyone by email unless you know that you have an open and active claim with the Bureau of Unemployment Compensation of the Maine Department of Labor. All our departmental email addresses end with @maine.gov,'" Paquette advised.

The filing of unemployment claims in Maine peaks each year in January, so during this time of year, claimants should expect wait times if they have to call the department. Companies purporting to provide faster service for unemployment filing are not legitimate, although claimants may find the idea of having someone else take care of the filing attractive.

The department is also preparing to launch an upgrade to the unemployment computer and phone claims systems. Accordingly, the department has sent several messages to claimants reminding them to be prepared for the upgrade and warning that when the upgrade is launch there will be longer wait times if a claimant needs to call the department. These messages are sent via the department's gov.delivery mass email system with the email address MaineDOL@subscriptions.maine.gov.

The department advises any person who believes he or she has been compromised to contact local law enforcement and the Attorney General's Office.

Maine's Bureau of Unemployment Compensation (BUC) does not send out unsolicited emails requesting confidential information. BUC's emails are signed by a person employed by the BUC with their contact information and use the "@maine.gov" email address.