SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A nationwide security breach has led the Illinois Department of Employment Security to issue a dire warning.
Each state’s Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program has been infiltrated by a fraud scheme.
Individuals who did not file for unemployment but still received a debit card or unemployment insurance letter through the mail are a likely target of fraud.
“Federal authorities have informed states your personal identifying information may likely have been obtained in prior breaches of corporate or other databases, like the massive Equifax breach,” said Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
“This means it’s possible your personal identifying infortmation was used in this scheme.”
Pritzker advised anyone who received a debit card not to activate it, and for all people to check their credit reports for suspicious activity.
An exact number of people who may have been targeted was unknown.
“We know it’s wide enough spread we’ve gotten a lot of reports of it,” he said.
Anyone who has received and activated a card should contact the IDES.
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