If you filed for unemployment in Texas, the next phone call you get could be a scam
As a record number of Texans seek unemployment due to the novel coronavirus, state officials issued a new warning Wednesday.
Watch out for scams.
Texas Workforce Commission officials say people falsely saying they are with the agency may reach out to Texans seeking unemployment benefits. They may try to get credit card numbers and information about bank accounts.
Or they might try to collect a fee for processing unemployment claims.
The commission issued a statement telling any Texan seeking unemployment benefits “to practice caution when providing people with personally identifiable information.”
“Unfortunately, in situations such as the one we are experiencing because of COVID-19, there can be unemployment insurance scams and fraudulent phone calls,” the statement continued.
This comes as more than half a million Texans filed for unemployment benefits in the first 18 days since the novel coronavirus began spreading through the state, as cities and counties began issuing stay-at-home orders that prevented some from doing jobs not deemed essential.
Total Texas unemployment claim numbers for March won’t be available until mid-April.
But so many Texans have been trying to apply for unemployment benefits that they’ve overwhelmed the state’s system. Many still are struggling to get through to file their claims.
Benefits may be applied for:
▪ Online at ui.texasworkforce.org. Officials say the best time to apply online, when the fewest people are trying to access the website, is between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m.
▪ On the phone. The 800-939-6631 number is available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.
The agency noted on Wednesday that Texans who file for unemployment benefits may be contacted by a TWC employee. And anyone who left a voice mail, sent an email or reached out to the commission using social media should expect a phone call from a commission worker.
“However, a TWC Specialist will never ask for a credit card number or state that there is any kind of fee associated with your claim,” the statement said. “There is no fee for filing for (unemployment benefits) and a TWC Specialist cannot change banking information, so the full number is unnecessary.“
The TWC statement said anyone who receives a call should be careful about giving out information.
If you talk to someone and you’re not sure if they work for the state agency, don’t give out your phone number, address, social security number or PIN number
“When in doubt, hang up,” the statement said.
Anyone who believes they’ve been a victim of identity theft should visit identitytheft.gov to report the crime and develop a recovery plan.
This story was originally published April 8, 2020 at 5:10 PM.
