Michigan's Unemployment Insurance Agency warns jobless claimants of text phishing scam

Michigan's Unemployment Insurance Agency warned claimants Monday to be on the lookout for text messages that claim to be from the agency that are aimed at trying to steal money and personal information.

The text messages, which come from a phone number with a "210" area code, say in part: "MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY: Your back payment deposit of $2,800 is now pending on your profile." It then instructs the recipient to click on a link to receive payment.

The link then takes the recipient to a fake UIA website.

The phishing scam — a type of scam designed to trick consumers into revealing personal information by pretending to be reputable a company or entity — comes as many claimants were told by the agency that they were overpaid benefits in the pandemic, and are now waiting on a waiver and potentially a refund if they started paying back the balance.

The agency said it doesn't contact claimants through text messages. It uses claimants' Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) online unemployment accounts, letters sent via mail and phone calls to contact claimants.

The agency said consumers who receive this text should not click on the link, and instead report the text as junk or spam and delete the text.

More: Michigan unemployment agency has questions after judge orders pause on collections

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The scam also comes as the agency deals with a judge's order that the agency halt collection activities for certain unemployment insurance claimants who were told they were overpaid benefits during the pandemic. Several claimants sued to stop collections until overpayments were verified.

In response to questions from the Detroit Free Press asking whether the agency had paused collection activities for any claimants after the June order, Nick Assendelft, a spokesperson for the agency, said Monday that while he is unable to answer questions related to ongoing litigation, the agency will continue to review rulings made in this case and its impact on claimants.

In response to questions on the status of waivers for claimants who were told they were overpaid benefits in the pandemic, he said the agency is continuing to work on "identifying claimants who may be eligible for overpayment waivers based on providing gross earnings versus net earnings when applying for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance." The agency first said in May that it was working on identifying these claimants who were potentially eligible for a waiver.

Contact Adrienne Roberts: amroberts@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan unemployment agency warns consumers of text phishing scam