#Middlebury #Scams #UnemploymentBenefits
(Wethersfield, CT) – Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL) Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo is warning residents of text scams that include links to fake webpages resembling CTDOL unemployment pages, including the unemployment benefits login page. The texts appear to come from the agency and may read: ‘Connecticut’s Department of Labor warn Your account is abnormal’ or ‘Your unemployment is updated and logged in to view’. The agency has seen several variations of these messages, all with a link, and warns residents that these texts are not legitimate.
Commissioner Bartolomeo said, “The agency did not send these. The texts themselves have several hallmarks of a scam, but the biggest red flag is that CTDOL does not communicate about individual claims over text. Due to confidentiality, only the Consumer Contact Center handles claims inquiries — we do not do claims work over text or through social media. Identity theft and phishing are significant 21st century problems that everyone must stay vigilant about. Claimants might not think twice about putting their personal identifying information in an email or posting on social media that they are a claimant having problems, but that gives criminals enough information to potentially hijack their identities. It’s a very serious concern and one that we constantly warn our filers to be aware of.”
The Connecticut Department of Labor works with state and federal law enforcement to protect the unemployment system from imposter claims and fraud. If you think your personal information has been compromised, please notify your local law enforcement. In the case where you believe an unemployment claim has been filed using your identity, report that to the Department of Labor as well. The agency has information, reporting tools, and resources available on its fraud page.
Cyber security experts recommend regular account maintenance to maintain the integrity and security of your personal information. 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.
- Monitor your accounts—if you had an email breach, other accounts may also be compromised.
