Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency warned claimants Monday to be on the look out for text messages that claim to be from the agency that are aimed at trying to steal money and personal information.
The text messages, which come from a phone number with a “210” area code, say in part: “MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY: Your back payment deposit of $2,800 is now pending on your profile.” It then instructs the recipient to click on a link to receive payment.
The link then takes the recipient to a fake UIA website.
The phishing scam — a type of scam designed to trick consumers into revealing personal information by pretending to be reputable a company or entity — comes as many claimants were told by the agency that they were overpaid benefits in the pandemic, and are now waiting on a waiver and potentially a refund in they started paying back the balance.
The agency said it doesn’t contact claimants through text messages. It uses claimants’ Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) online unemployment accounts, letters sent via mail and phone calls to contact claimants.
The agency said consumers who receive this text should not click on the link, and instead report the text as junk or spam and delete the text.
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The scam also comes as the agency deals with a judge’s order…
