Michigan officials are warning residents of an email scam that is attempting to retrieve personal information from individuals collecting unemployment benefits.
According to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, an email is being sent to claimants seeking personal information. The email is being sent from a Gmail account that appears to be from the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) -- it is not.
Recommended Videos
Anyone who receives this email should not respond or provide any personal information to the sender. Nessel said Wednesday that there is “no government agency, state or federal, that uses Gmail for official purposes.”
Nessel warns that the scammer may even attach what appears to be actual communication from the UIA in an effort to “strengthen the credibility of the email.”
View an image of the scam email below, courtesy of Nessel’s office.
Officials say the UIA would never ask a claimant to reply to an email with personal information.
“Responses to ID verification requests from UIA should only be uploaded through your secure Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) account online at the UIA’s website,” officials said.
Anyone who has fallen for this scam should report fraud or identity theft with the UIA immediately. You can file a report on the Michigan UIA website right here. Those individuals are also encouraged to monitor their banking and account information each time they certify for benefits.
“Bad actors are increasingly sophisticated in their efforts to deceive people into giving away personal information,” Nessel said. “This is one of the cruelest scams I’ve ever seen because it targets vulnerable residents who are desperate to receive their UIA benefits -- so desperate that they may not inspect the email address to confirm its validity.”
Related