Scheme Targets Ohio’s Unemployed
COLUMBUS, Ohio—Ohio recipients of unemployment compensation benefits may be national fraud targets. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, along with Attorney General Richard Cordray’s office have reported receiving widespread reports of a national scheme targeting Ohio recipients.
Targeted individuals have received text messages on their cell phones asking them to call a provided number to reactivate their unemployment benefits. The text messages say that they are coming from state unemployment agencies.
Once the number is called, recipients are asked for personal information, such as debit card numbers along with personal identification numbers (PIN). From that information, the scam artists are able to retrieve the actual unemployment benefits deposited on the card.
“We want to make all unemployment recipients in Ohio aware of this very real threat,“ said Douglas Lumpkin, ODJFS Director, in a press release from the office of the Attorney General. “ODJFS representatives will never ask for claimants’ debit card information or their PIN numbers. Claimants should not give this information out over the phone.“
According to the Attorney General’s Office, complaints have been filed about several variations of the scam that allege specific problems with U.S. Bank issued credit cards. Attorney General Cordray strongly urges Ohioans to disregard the message and not to provide any personal information.
U.S. Bank has said that they would “never ask a customer to place their personal information in jeopardy by contacting them and asking them to divulge it over the phone, via Email or text messages.“
Attorney General Cordray said in the press release that this scam is an example of how criminals are adapting to changing times and technologies.
“I cannot emphasize enough the importance of remaining vigilant and exercising extreme caution with personal information,“ Cordray said.
For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com—Where Accuracy Matters.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail .
No comments:
Post a Comment