Updated: 3:37 PM EST February 16, 2021
HARRISBURG, Pa. The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program has been a magnet for scammers since it launched in March 2020. Pennsylvania officials on Feb. 16 warned residents to continue staying vigilant against unemployment compensation fraud.
The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office has so far arrested 29 people in relation to unemployment compensation fraud, representing six individual fraud rings and $2.5 million in illegally acquired funds.
Scammers often use others personal information, such as usernames, passwords and Social Security numbers.
“A lot of identity theft doesn’t happen because you’re being careless. It happens because you’ve been implicated in a breach. Unfortunately there’s a great deal of information available on the dark web,” said Chief Deputy Attorney General Brian Zarallo.