BOROUGH OF PHOENIXVILLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT
351 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, PA 19460
Phone: (610) 933-1180 Fax: (610) 933-9114
www.phoenixville.org
Widespread Unemployment & Other Frauds
Numerous agencies throughout the Commonwealth of PA have seen an increase in fraudulent attempts to apply for unemployment benefits using previously stolen identities. This criminal activity has also affected our Phoenixville community members and employees as well.
Signs of fraud include:
- Employers receiving notice that a claim has been opened for a current employee who is actively working, or an unknown person.
- Individuals receiving unemployment benefits that they did not apply for from the PA Treasury.
Anyone who is a victim is encouraged to file a police report. You will need an official police report incident number to move forward to help safeguard your name as well as any future identity theft scams. The Phoenixville Police Department is also requesting that they also report the fraud to Labor & Industry online at the UC Benefits Website, https://benefits.uc.pa.gov/vosnet/Default.aspx Click “ Report Fraud Here” a the bottom of the page to complete and submit the Identity Theft Form. Do not log in.
Victims who are legitimately collecting unemployment, but their accounts have been hijacked and money rerouted should call the Fraud Hotline at 800-692-7469.
Victims who receive checks or US Bank debit cards in the mail should return them to L&I with a brief signed statement as to the reason for the return, as well as a phone number and email address. Checks should be marked VOID. Both checks and debit cards should be returned to:
Pennsylvania Treasury
651 Boas Street, Room 400
L&I Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120
The Phoenixville Police Department is also encouraging victims to start a recovery plan with the Federal Trade Commission by visiting www.identiytheft.gov
Remember, the IRS will never call you asking for your personal information or money. They do not want nor will ever ask you for Bitcoin or prepaid credit cards as payment. The police or sheriff’s department will never call you asking for cash to release a grandchild out of jail who was involved in an auto accident. Please talk to your elderly relatives about these types of scams. It may save them a fortune!
