Identity Fraud in Focus quarterly report
8 min
Scammers have stolen hundreds of millions of dollars from U.S. employment systems during the pandemic. And they targeted federal stimulus payments too. Allstate Identity Protection offers members the tools they need to proactively monitor their identity, data, and finances so they can act quickly to protect themselves from fraud.
Many millions of Americans weathered the chaos of the pandemic with help from stimulus funds and unemployment benefits.
But what happens when the relief you need winds up padding a criminal’s pocket instead of your own?
Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened to many out-of-work Americans. Federal agencies discovered that hundreds of millions of dollars were stolen from Washington State’s unemployment fund. Investigators suspect a Nigerian crime ring known as “Scattered Canary” of orchestrating a massive attack on U.S. unemployment services. There’s evidence that several states were targeted, including North Carolina, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Oklahoma, Wyoming, and Florida.
It may surprise you that scammers successfully duped the government out of such large sums, but government-focused fraud such as tax-related identity theft is nothing new. With trillions of stimulus dollars being distributed, fraudsters saw another chance to cash in. Pulling from the huge catalog of personally identifiable information (PII) leaked in data breaches over the years, criminals created convincing false claims using stolen Social Security numbers, home addresses, and other key data points that are often readily available on the dark web.
We offer Allstate Identity Protection members tools that proactively monitor their identity, data, and finances so they can act quickly at the threat of fraud.
Identity protection is the first line of defense against fraud
Keeping your personal information private is a good way to ward off any kind of identity theft. If criminals can’t access your details, they probably won’t be able to, say, file a fake unemployment claim in your name. To that end, be sure you’re setting strong passwords and sharing information smartly, both online and off.
However, if your information does wind up exposed, you’ll want to know right away so you can take steps to address the breach. That’s where identity protection comes in. If you’re an Allstate Identity Protection member, you have access to a variety of powerful tools and resources:
In the Allstate Identity Protection portal, tap the Social Media Account Takeover Monitoring tab and connect your social media accounts. You’ll receive actionable alerts when we see questionable content on your social feeds, such as graphic material that may indicate account takeover.
Under the Dark Web Monitoring tab, add important details, like credit card numbers. We’ll then scour the dark corners of the internet for your information and alert you to potential fraud, so you can act quickly to minimize damage.
Under the Credit Monitoring tab, take additional preventative measures such as locking your TransUnion credit report and reviewing it for suspicious activity.
Our Restoration Specialists are available 24/7 to help members recover from fraud. Whenever possible, they’ll make calls and file the necessary paperwork on your behalf, minimizing stress and streamlining the recovery process.
If you become furloughed or unemployed, we make it easy to keep your identity protection benefit.
The landscape of identity theft may be challenging, but there’s one thing you can count on. With us as your partner, you won't have to fight fraud alone.