Northwest Iowa — Officials at Iowa Workforce Development are warning people who apply for unemployment assistance benefits of a scam that is currently being carried out.
According to Iowa Workforce Development, the scam is in the form of an email informing those who have applied for unemployment that they need to provide further information before their application can be processed. IWD says they do NOT request sensitive account information through email communications. They say that individuals filing for unemployment insurance benefits will receive all pertinent information regarding their account through the U.S. Postal Service, NOT through email. They say the emails in question do NOT come from IWD or any IWD service.
Iowa Workforce Development advises anyone receiving such an email to NOT click on any of the links provided in the email, including the unsubscribe link. If you have already provided credit card information, IWD advises you to contact your credit card company or bank immediately. IF you provided your Social Security number, and/or date of birth and are concerned about being the victim of identity theft, IWD suggests that you contact the Iowa Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at 515-281-5926.
Iowa Workforce Development says the email below is the actual email sent to those targeted by the scammers. Again, they stress that this is a scam and is is no way connected with Iowa Workforce Development, or the Unemployment Insurance Program:
Sender: “Unemployment Assist” <info@unemployment-assist.com>
Subject: Verification Required: 2nd Request
This is our 2nd email is to inform you that we have received your initial request for Unemployment Assistance.
Our system indicated that you did not complete step 2, until you do, we will not be able to offer you any further assistance. You can either cancel your request, and we will delete your information, or you can go back to the registration form to continue.
To go back to the registration form, click below:
=> Click here to continue your unemployment registrationPlease understand that your chances of getting denied go up the longer you wait to submit your official application.
Don’t miss any of your benefit payments. Click the link below:
=> Click here for the unemployment registration formSupport Team
Employment Advisory Department
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