Department Continues to Pursue all Fraudulent Activities to the Fullest Extent of the Law

 

JUNEAU, Alaska — Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Dr. Tamika L. Ledbetter announced today that Alaska continues to take vigorous measures to prevent fraud or misuse of the Unemployment Insurance program, including the expanded unemployment benefits under the CARES and Continued Assistance Acts.

Suspicious actors that may have access to Personal Identifying Information have stolen identities to file fraudulent unemployment insurance claims nationwide. If you receive mail from Alaska’s UI program and have not filed a claim for unemployment benefits, report it immediately! 

• Tell your employer 
• Notify the Unemployment Insurance Investigations Office
• Email: uifraud@alaska.gov
• Phone: (907) 269-4880

“The Department of Labor and Workforce Development will vigorously pursue allfraudulent activities to the fullest extent of the law,” said Commissioner Ledbetter.

Individuals commit UI fraud by knowingly submitting false information, knowingly continuing to collect benefits when ineligible, intentionally collecting benefits without reporting wages or income or not reporting when suitable employment or available work is refused.

If an individual refuses an offer of work because UI pays more than their weekly wage, is asking to be laid off, requests to have their hours reduced or quits available work so they can obtain UI benefits, they may be committing fraud. Employers should immediately report these activities for investigation.

Employers may send the following information to the UI office by email at uifraud@alaska.gov or by fax to (907) 375-9520. A representative will contact the business for additional information:

• Business name
• Contact information
• Individual's first and last name
• Last four of the individual's Social Security Number, if available
• A brief description of the activity

DOLWD takes fraudulent activities to collect UI benefits seriously. If an individual obtains benefits through fraud, the individual is ineligible for any additional benefit payments, must re-pay the benefits received and is subject to criminal prosecution.