Security breach tied to unemployment and beyond The pandemic has overloaded the State unemployment system, and scammers have taken advantage, stealing billions of dollars in claims. Posted: May 4, 2021 5:34 PM Updated: May 4, 2021 5:48 PM Posted By: Kirk Tupaj The New York State Department of Labor has stopped over $6.4 billion in fraudulent unemployment claims since the start of the pandemic, but there’s no public report on how much New York has been ripped off. The U.S. Labor Department Inspector General's Office estimates during the pandemic more than $63 billion has been paid out through fraud or errors across the country. Anjolen Cyber Security Specialist Michelle Tuttle says before you become a victim of unemployment insurance fraud check your credit reports.