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Unemployment Insurance Fraud Support

Fraudulent unemployment insurance claims have become increasingly prevalent during the COVD-19 pandemic. Vanderbilt University has not been exempt from receiving such claims. When a fraudulent unemployment insurance claim is filled using a Vanderbilt University employee’s information, the University will report the claim as fraudulent after verifying with the employee that they did not file the claim. Vanderbilt University remains committed to preventing fraud and providing resources to those impacted by this fraud.

State and federal agencies are periodically updating their unemployment insurance identity theft websites and we are monitoring these. Updates will be identified with a date notation.

What should I do if I am a victim of unemployment insurance fraud or have received a 1099-G with unemployment compensation that I did not collect?

Step 1:

Report the suspected fraud to the TN Department of Labor & Workforce Development.

  1. Send a detailed email to BPC.Investigations@tn.gov including the last 4 digits of your social security number (remember to never email your full social security number) and state you are a victim of identity theft. If you received a 1099-G due to fraud, request a revised 1099-G. A response email will provide you with a reference ticket number.
  2. If you prefer to call, you can do so by dialing (615) 645-3893; however, it is recommended to use email for tracking and confirmation purposes.

For out of state claims, notify the unemployment office in the state in which the fraudulent claim was filed. Please go to the Department of Labor UI Theft site and scroll to the State Directory for Reporting Unemployment Theft to find the appropriate email address and phone number to use.

Step 2:

Contact the three major credit reporting agencies and file for either a credit freeze or a fraud alert. Visit https://www.identitytheft.gov/UnemploymentInsurance for direct links to the credit reporting agencies and for explanations of credit freezes and fraud alerts. You can review your credit report for free at http://www.annualcreditreport.com/.

Step 3:

Notify the Vanderbilt People Experience Department if you have not yet been contacted by the University. The Office of People Experience is typically made aware of claims through the University’s unemployment vendor, Corporate Cost Control and would notify you directly; however, if you have not been notified, please contact Janet Smith, Administrative Manager of People Experience at janet.smith.1@vanderbilt.edu.

Step 4:

Ensure you are using Vanderbilt’s virtual private network (VPN) configured with multi-factor authentication (MFA).

Additional recommended actions:

    1. Report the suspected fraud to your local police department.
    2. Check your Social Security Statement for additional wages added to your account. Go to or sign-up for a my Social Security account at https://www.ssa.gov/onlineservices/
    3. Consider opting into the IRS Identity Protection PIN Program that helps prevent federal tax return theft. (https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/get-an-identity-protection-pin)
    4. Partner with your tax advisor to determine if you should file an Identity Theft Affidavit (IRS Form 14039)
    5. Reach out to your bank and credit card companies.
    6. File a complaint with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center

Please note there is no evidence that Vanderbilt University employee data has been breached.

If you have documentation that needs notarized, please see this list of campus Notaries Publics here.

Employees wishing to seek counsel for mental and emotional wellbeing can contact Vanderbilt’s Work/Life Connections – EAP  

For additional resources and assistance, please contact your Engagement Consultant