Because of the recent spike of unemployment claims due to COVID-19, businesses are seeing an increased level of fraudulent claims. Public employers such as governments and schools have been especially large targets, but all businesses need to be aware of the issue and how to report it when it occurs.

Washington’s Employment Security Department’s Fraud (ESDF) division has instructed that each individual with a fraudulent claim must individually contact ESDF at 1 (800) 246-9763 or send an email to esd-fraud@esd.wa.gov and provide the following information:

• Name

• Last four SS# digits

• Date of birth

• Home address

The individual must either state (if calling) or write (if emailing) the following: “Someone is filing a fraudulent claim on my benefit account. Please deny and cancel the claim."

If ESDF determines that a claim week was filed and paid out, then the individual will receive a notice from ESDF. If no monies were paid out, then they will lock the claim and no notice will be sent out.

For the employer, on the Employment Security Separation Notice (the notice that the employer uses to respond back to Employment Security about a claimant), ESDF suggests that the employer attach the below notice and fax back to ESDF:

Fax: 1 (800) 301-1796     
Date: _______________________________

Fraudulent Claim
Claimant instructed to contact office of special investigations.
(Company name)
(Company contact)
(Company contact email)
(Company contact phone)

A form to report fraud on the ESD website can be found here.