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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Unemployment agencies across the U.S. became lucrative targets for criminals when they were bombarded with claims last year as millions lost jobs due to coronavirus shutdowns.
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Unemployment agencies across the U.S. became lucrative targets for criminals when they were bombarded with claims last year as millions lost jobs due to coronavirus shutdowns.
The Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Unemployment agencies across the country were bombarded with so many claims during the pandemic that many struggled to distinguish the correct from the criminal. Now, simple tax forms — barely enough to fill a half-sheet of paper — are revealing the extent of the identity theft that made state-run unemployment offices lucrative targets for fraud after millions of people lost their jobs during the pandemic. Unemployment benefits are taxable, so government agencies must send a tax form — known as a 1099-G — to people who received the benefits ...
Simple tax forms are now revealing the extent of the identity theft that made state-run unemployment offices lucrative targets for fraud.
Tax forms help to paint big picture of widespread unemployment fraud By ADAM BEAM File Photo. IRS tax forms with tax refund check. SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Unemployment agencies across the country became lucrative targets for criminals when they were bombarded with claims last year as millions lost jobs due to coronavirus shutdowns. Now, simple tax forms being sent to people who never collected unemployment benefits are revealing their identity was likely stolen months ago and used to claim bogus benefits that have totaled billions of dollars across the country. In California alone, state offici...