Attorney General Launching New Effort To Assist OESC With Unemployment Fraud

Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter’s office is launching a new resource to help the state deal with thousands of unemployment claims. 

 In a statement, the Attorney General said in part that his team’s new website goes live Thursday at 8 a.m. and it will help them track down thieves trying to steal Oklahoman’s unemployment benefits. 

The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission said it has found more than 3,800 fake claims since mid-March. That fraud prevents out-of-work Oklahomans from filing for the unemployment benefits they need. 

Their claim won’t go through because someone else has already used their name, address and other personal information to file a fake claim and steal their benefits. 

 The OESC points out these victims are already dealing with the stress of unemployment. Adding identity to that stress is like kicking them while they’re down. 

 “For individuals who lost their job due to the oil crisis or COVID-19 related business closures, discovering their identity has been used to file a bogus unemployment claim only adds to the devastation our neighbors are experiencing,” said OESC Executive Director Robin Roberson in a statement. 

 Victims need to notify the commission by calling (405) 962-4602 or emailing fraud@oesc.state.ok.us 

 AG Hunter also wants victims to fill out a form here so his office can work with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and local law enforcement to track down the thief.