The state Department of Labor & Industrial Relations (DLIR) announced it has received an increase in reports of schemes tied to unemployment insurance claims. These phishing schemes attempt to impersonate the DLIR unemployment system in the form of text messages, emails, and social media posts that are perceived coming from DLIR to phish for personally identifiable information.

In a press release DLIR Director Anne Perreira-Eustaquio said, “These phishing texts try to trick you into clicking on a link that takes you to a fake website that may look very real, some of the websites are virtually indistinguishable from ours except that the website address is incorrect.  The fake website will ask you to input your website credentials and personal information that the criminals can use to steal unemployment insurance benefits or for other identity theft schemes.”

The DLIR does not send text messages asking for personal information.  Individuals interested in reporting fraud attempts, can call the Unemployment Insurance Call Center at  (808) 762-5751 or 5752 and select option 4.  They can also report fraud to the National Center for Disaster Fraud by calling (866) 720-5721.

For more information please visit https://labor.hawaii.gov/blog/main/unemployment-insurance-assistance-fraud-info/ and https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/national-unemployment-insurance-fraud-task-force.