Last week one of my co-workers alerted us that someone had filed for unemployment using his SSN. When I went to check I found the same thing had happened to me. I knew I was at risk because my SSN was exposed in the Equifax breach a couple of years ago. Here is what I've been able to piece together.

Some time in April someone went to the WA state employment security website and created an account using my SSN, address, etc. Also in April I got a letter in the mail from the Employment Security Department. When I got it - I thought it was curious that they would send something to me, but chalked it up to coronavirus craziness and didn't think much more about it. About 2 weeks ago I got a new credit card in the mail from Gobank which I had never asked for. (Gobank is the Walmart bank.) I asked my wife about it - and she says not to worry as we get credit card applications in the mail all the time that she destroys and I never see. No big deal. (But this was a real credit card so I thought that was curious but pretty much ignored it.)

Then last week I found out about someone creating a false claim under my SSN.

So I've spent the last couple of days:
- Filing a report with the WA State Employment security department
- Filing a claim with the WA State Attorney General's office
- Filing a report with the local law enforcement
- Filing a report with the FTC
- Filing a report with my company's HR department
- Contacting the three major credit bureaus

PAIN IN THE BUTT

Fortunately - we had put a freeze on our credit last year so I think we should be good.

Here is more news about it. Especially read the last one:
https://www.seattletimes.com/business/fraudsters-are-faking-washington-unemployment-claims-amid-coronavirus-joblessness-surge/
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/what-to-do-if-your-name-is-used-by-unemployment-fraudsters-taking-advantage-of-coronavirus-crisis/