| Dear Colleagues, The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) has seen a rise in fraudulent unemployment claims attempting to exploit the overall increase in unemployment insurance claims associated with COVID-19. This widespread fraud scheme involves unemployment claims filed using another person’s identity. Many victims are alerted to this identity theft by receiving a U.S. Bank ReliaCard in the mail when they have not filed for unemployment. This identity theft scam has affected Coloradans around the state, and we’ve heard from University of Colorado faculty and staff who have been targeted in this scheme. First, I want to assure you that this fraud is not connected to a breach or compromise of University of Colorado systems. CU was not the source of the data breach that resulted in this scam. The information being used by the crime’s perpetrators likely came from a large data breach sometime in the last 10 years (Equifax, Target, Hilton, etc.). The CDLE suspects the scheme’s perpetrators are not stealing mail but instead working to get PIN numbers the state uses to pay out benefits. Second, I want ensure that University of Colorado faculty, staff and students know about resources to proactively protect themselves and, if they have been targeted, report the identity theft to the appropriate people who can help them. That’s why we’ve assembled the following resources:Instructions on what to do if you suspect you might be a victim of this scam.Ways to protect yourself from identity theft by setting up a fraud alert on your credit report.Access these instructions and resources. I encourage you to take swift action to report any suspected identity theft and take proactive steps to protect yourself. Thank you, Kathy Nesbitt Vice President of Administration CU System Administration |
| Employee Services | University of Colorado 303-860-4200 | 855-216-7740 | employeeservices@cu.edu | www.cu.edu/es 1800 Grant St., Suite 400, Denver, CO 80203 |
