A Step-by-Step Guide for Victims of Unemployment Fraud

Millions of fraudulent unemployment insurance claims have been filed in the U.S. over the past year, inundating an already overwhelmed system. The majority of the scams target the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program created by the Cares Act to aid those who aren’t traditionally eligible for benefits, such as gig workers and the self-employed. That’s largely because, unlike regular state unemployment insurance, PUA applicants don’t need an employer to verify their status.

At least $89 billion in improper payments have been doled out since last year, much of it through fraudulent claims, according to March estimates from a watchdog ...