Integrity Unit

The Connecticut Department of Labor’s Integrity Unit is on the front lines of protecting the Unemployment Trust Fund and ensuring that the agency pays out unemployment benefits properly.

The Unemployment Trust Fund is paid for by Connecticut employers. Their tax dollars ensure that unemployment benefits are there when workers need them. If you suspect unemployment fraud or if you are a victim of identity theft, please let us know right away so we can help protect your unemployment benefits and the Trust Fund.

Integrity Unit Services

Fraud Detection 

CTDOL has resources to help prevent fraud and protect your unemployment account.

The 1099G Tax Form 

Did you receive a 1099 tax form? Here’s information to help. 

Benefit Accuracy Measurement (BAM) 

Learn more about BAM. 

CT SIDES & SIDES E-Response 

Employers, get email notification when someone files against your business. Prevent fraud and overpayments.

Fraud Prosecution Program 

A partnership combining the resources of the Connecticut Department of Labor and Chief State’s Attorney’s Office is fighting fraud by tracking down and prosecuting offenders for collecting Unemployment Compensation benefits to which they were not entitled.
Fraud Watch - Preventing unemployment fraud is up to all of us

Fraud Watch

Fraudsters are contacting residents and claiming to be employers from CTHires. If you receive any correspondence claiming to be an employer from CTHires, please follow the below steps:

  • ALWAYS be suspicious if you are asked to pay a fee to apply for a job.
    Report any such calls to your local American Job Center.
  • Do not release your personal information until you verify the caller. Verify by independently searching the company's website.
  • Verify the caller by independently searching the company's website. Be on the lookout for errors, spelling mistakes, and ensure a comprehensive website.
  • Use the phone number on the company's site to return the call if the website passes your inspection.
  • Contact your local American Job Center for assistance if assistance is needed.
  • Trust your intuition and investigate further if anything seems suspicious.
  • Avoid becoming a victim by staying vigilant.

Fraudsters are busy this holiday season, don't be a victim.

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Vigilance is Essential

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If you didn't file a claim for unemployment benefits and any of the below happen, you may be a victim of ID theft.
Please notify us immediately if you did not file for benefits and: 

 

  • You are still working, and you or your employer receive a request for information about an unemployment claim in your name. 
  • You receive a monetary determination letter.
  • You receive  a1099G tax form. 
  • You receive unexpected unemployment benefits.

For Employers

If you received a 21A notice that an employee has filed for benefits, but that worker is still employed with you, please have the employee complete the ID Theft Report Form and review the information below. 

Protect Yourself from Identity Theft and Fraud

Criminals have sophisticated ways to steal your information—by text, using social media, through email, and by breaching retail and commercial systems that have personal identifiers like your birth date, Social Security Number, and other details. Many people don’t realize they are a victim of ID theft until they start getting notices about accounts being set up in their name that they did not apply for; in some cases, that notification may be from the Connecticut Department of Labor in the form of a monetary determination letter or a 1099 tax form.

When criminals file for unemployment benefits using a stolen identity, it can take time to unravel what happened. Many identity theft protection programs only flag issues for their customers if the issue is related to credit and banking.  An individual who has an identity protection service will not be notified if their identity is used to claim unemployment benefits because (1) this system is separate from the banking system, and (2) UI information is highly confidential under state and federal law; therefore states will not share their UI data with credit agencies. Here’s what we know and some tips to help if it happens to you.

Always Be Fraud Aware

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If you didn’t file for unemployment and received a 1099 form or monetary determination letter, you may be a victim of identity theft. Submit the CTDOL ID Theft Report Form immediately to report it. A CTDOL staff person will respond to your report.

How did they get my info?

Personal information is available to criminals—they purchase it on the dark web, obtain it through retail and commercial breaches, and get you to reveal it through text, phone, social media, and email phishing.

Have you ever received one of those ‘fun’ surveys on social media that will reveal your personality type if you answer a few questions about your favorite color, first pet, or childhood best friend?  These can be scams designed to get you to reveal the answers to common security questions. Don’t participate in these no matter where they originated.

If you get a spam text, report it to your carrier. Never click on any links in a spam text. Forward the message to 7726 (SPAM). This works for all major mobile carriers.

CTDOL will never: 

  • Call you and ask you for your account username or password.
  • Do individual unemployment claims work over text or text you about a problem with your account.
  • Use social media for claims work. We never ask for identifying information, photos, or documents through social media. Our social media platforms are for information only.

Beware of: 

  • Text and email scams. Do not click on any links or attachments. Check URLs carefully to ensure an exact match with CTDOL web resources. If you have a question, always navigate to your unemployment account through ReEmployCT or call the Consumer Contact Center.  If you get a scam text, report it to your carrier. Forward it to 7726 (SPAM). This works for all major mobile companies.
  • Social media scams. If someone offers to help you with your unemployment claim, do not accept. CTDOL UI staff follow strict standards in safeguarding your personal information, and only CTDOL UI staff have access to your claims information. The application for unemployment benefits contains personal identifiers; if someone other than CTDOL UI staff helps you with the application, they have your information.

Here are some examples of phishing and fraud texts we've seen: 

Phishing and Fraud Text Example 1
Not a CTDOL URL

Phishing and Fraud Text Example 2
CTDOL has ‘ct.gov’ extensions, not ‘ct-gov.com’

Ways to Avoid Being a Victim

Cyber security experts recommend regular account maintenance to maintain the integrity and security of your personal information. The information available on the dark web is only as good as it is current. Update passwords and usernames regularly where possible. Don't reuse passwords or share them with anyone.

Anything unsolicited is suspicious. If you didn’t ask for the information, independently verify it before you click on links or respond.

Best practices include:

  • Use different passwords for your social media, banking, email, and other accounts.
  • Change your passwords regularly.
  • Use strong passwords—upper and lowercase letters, symbols, possibly a short phrase in lieu of a single word, and stay away from dictionary words.
  • Use two-factor authentication to access your accounts whenever possible.
  • Monitor your accounts—if you had an email breach, other accounts may also be compromised.
  • If you receive a message via text or email and it seems suspicious, do not reply to the message; instead, independently search out the contact information for the organization so you can confirm the communication.
  • Check credit card fraud protection services. Many of them will monitor the dark web as part of standard identity theft protection.

Trust your instincts. If something seems wrong, contact CTDOL to find out if what you are receiving is a valid communication from us. 

If you are a victim of ID theft

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Take the following steps:


  • Submit the CTDOL ID Theft Report Form immediately.
  • File a police report with your local police department. Obtain a copy of the report that you can provide to creditors and credit agencies.
  • Change passwords on your email, banking, and other personal accounts.
  • Make a list of credit card companies, banks, and other financial institutions where you do business. Tell them you are a victim of identity theft and ask them to put a fraud alert on your account. 
  • Get a copy of your credit report and dispute any fraudulent transactions. Check that all the accounts that are open are yours. You can request credit reports online from the 3 major credit reporting agencies:
    • Equifax: 800-349-9960 or freeze your credit online
    • Experian: 888-397-3742 or freeze your credit online
    • TransUnion: 888-909-8872 or freeze your credit online
  • Place a credit freeze with each of the 3 major credit reporting agencies by calling the agencies or freezing your credit online.
  • Place a fraud alert on your credit file. You can do this by contacting just one of the credit agencies to add an alert with all three agencies.

Who can help?

CTDOL’s Integrity Unit can assist if someone has submitted an unemployment application in your name. Submit the ID Theft Report Form immediately.

If you suspect that someone is using your Social Security Number for work purposes, contact the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213 to report the problem. They will review your earnings with you to ensure they are correct. You can also review earnings posted to your social security statement for workers 18 and older.

Opt-in to the IRS' Identity Protection PIN program. Through this program, the IRS will issue you a 6-digit IP PIN. The IRS will then use this pin to verify your identity and keep scammers from using your identity to file illegitimate tax returns.

Additionally:

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Report Unemployment Insurance Fraud

The Unemployment Compensation Fraud Unit was established in the state’s Division of Criminal Justice to ensure proper payment of unemployment benefits and good stewardship of the Unemployment Trust Fund. The Trust Fund is paid for solely through taxes on employers; it’s vital for Connecticut business and industry that unemployment claims are paid out properly. 

  • If you see unemployment fraud happening, please report it
  • Examples of unemployment fraud may be:
    • someone who is working and collecting unemployment benefits;
    • someone who is collecting unemployment benefits using an identity that is not their own; or
    • someone who is giving false answers on the unemployment weekly certification form.

If you are a victim of identity theft and someone has used your identity to file for benefits, please let us know.

Federal Fraud Alerts

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Help us protect you by being vigilant about account security.

Unauthorized Changes

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Did you receive a notice stating that you accessed or changed your ReEmployCT unemployment benefits payment method, mailing address, email address, or password? Your ReEmployCT account may have been changed without your authorization.

The 1099G Tax Form

Are you claiming unemployment benefits? Confused about your 1099G tax form? The Integrity Unit has resources available to help.
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Benefit Accuracy Measurement

Benefit Accuracy Measurement (BAM) is a federal program that provides the basis for assessing the accuracy of Unemployment Insurance (UI) payments and denials.
Learn more about BAM

CT SIDES & SIDES E-Response

Are you an employer or third-party administrator (TPA)? Need to respond to UI information requests or separation hearing notices? With SIDES and SIDES E-Response, you can securely exchange information with CTDOL and other labor agencies.

Contact Information and Location