Job Service warns users of scam

Job Service North Dakota is warning customers to protect their personal information in response to reports of a phone scam.

Job Service North Dakota has learned that a telephone-based nationwide fraud scheme targeting recipients of unemployment insurance benefits has resulted in calls to North Dakota citizens. Because the calls are random and being made by automated phone dialers (robo-calls), unemployment insurance claimants and those who have never received unemployment insurance benefits have received calls.

These robo calls claim to be from a bank issuing unemployment insurance debit cards. Customers are asked for their unemployment insurance debit card number, the associated PIN, and the last four digits of the individual’s Social Security number.

“We actively work to protect our unemployment insurance claimants and their personal information,” said Darren Brostrom, unemployment insurance director. “We have been in contact with our unemployment insurance debit card issuer, U.S. Bank, and they are investigating the situation. Neither Job Service North Dakota nor U.S. Bank ever ask for any debit card information in emails, text messages or phone calls unless the cardholder initiates the call.”

Individuals who may have received a call asking for unemployment insurance debit card information should contact Job Service North Dakota at 701-328-4995 to report the incident. Any individual who has replied to a request for information relating to his or her unemployment insurance debit card information should also contact U.S. Bank at the number on the back of the individual’s unemployment insurance debit card.

Tags: news, crime, scams