Sent: 2020-11-19
From: EIU
To: Various Recipients
Subject: Information regarding Fraudulent Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) Claims
Dear Campus Community:
In September, you should have received information regarding fraudulent unemployment claims being filed with the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). As indicated, some of our employees have been victims of this unscrupulous activity. While these actions are being addressed, it’s important to know that currently, this activity seems to be continuing. I would like to continue to clarify: There has not been a data breach at Eastern Illinois University. This is a statewide issue that is affecting many or all universities as well as non-educational related businesses and agencies.
I write to you today to provide some valuable tips that you can use to protect your identity, your credit, and your personal information. Of course, the activities outlined below are optional. You may wish to consider some of it, all of it, or none of it.
If you are a victim of IDES fraud, please follow the below suggestions:
Contact IDES at this Fraud Hotline number 1-800-814-0513. Please allow time for IDES to return your call.
You may also contact IDES on-line by following this link: https://www.ssa.gov/antifraudfacts/#:~:text=Do%20you%20suspect%20someone%20of,oig.ssa.gov%2F.
File a police report with your local agency (You may contact the University Police Department at 345-0060 or the proper law enforcement agency where you reside).
If you receive documents in the mail from IDES, fax a letter to IDES at 217-557-4913 and indicate that you did not file an unemployment claim and indicate the activity as fraud.
If you receive a debit card from IDES, shred or otherwise destroy the card.
Please know that EIU has reported any activity they view as fraud to IDES already. If you are identified as a victim, you will be contacted by EIU’s Human Resources Department.
Finally, if you are a victim of IDES fraud, you will not be liable for any benefits that have been paid as a result of someone filing and using your information.
For any type of fraud (including IDES fraud) or to simply help safeguard your information, consider some of the following best practices:
Regularly check your credit report(s).
