Unauthorized Web Sites

There are Web sites charging a fee for information about unemployment information and/or applying for benefits. Information about unemployment insurance benefits and completing an application for benefits are free services through the Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Web site www.uimn.org

Be wary of any e-mail requesting you to log in to an unauthorized Web site. If the e-mail requires log in to an unauthorized Web site, it is not a legitimate request.

Phone Scams

The New York State unemployment insurance program has reported a cell phone scam that targets unemployment insurance applicants. Scammers either call or send a text a message that asks applicants to call a phone number to reactivate their unemployment debit card. If an applicant calls the phone number, he or she is asked for their unemployment debit card number and debit card PIN. Once the scammer has the information, they access the applicant’s debit card account and steal the applicant’s funds.

There are no reports of this scam being tried in Minnesota, and there has been no breach in the security of Minnesota unemployment insurance data. However, this presents a good opportunity to provide a reminder to applicants:

• Always keep your unemployment debit card (ReliaCard) safe and do not share your debit card PIN with anyone.
• No one in Minnesota’s unemployment insurance program knows, or needs to know your ReliaCard PIN. Unemployment insurance staff will never ask you for your ReliaCard PIN or ReliaCard account number.