Unfortunately, identity theft is a widespread national challenge. Some citizens of New Mexico have become victims, and their identities used to file fraudulent unemployment claims in both the traditional unemployment and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance programs. The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions offers the following resources to help both individuals and employers who have been affected.
To report a fraudulent claim filed in your name, please fill out the Fraud Affidavit form below. If you submit this form, you do not need to call NMDWS or send an additional email.
Fraud Affidavit Form
Individuals - Report Identity Theft
If you suspect that your personal information has been stolen and/or if you received a debit card or letter from the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS) and you did not file for unemployment insurance benefits, the department needs to hear from you immediately by taking the following steps:
Report all information you may have about the fraudulent claim by contacting NMDWS, including the following if you have it:
- Claimant ID number
- First and last name;
- If you do not have a claimant ID, please provide the last 4 of your Social Security Number (SSN), do not send your full SSN.
There are two ways to contact us to report a false claim and send in the requested information listed above:
- Send an email to id.verify@dws.nm.gov and put “Reported Fraud” in the subject line of the email
- Call the Unemployment Insurance Operations Center at 1-877-664-6984
If you receive a letter regarding unemployment insurance (UI) and you did not file a claim for benefits, please refer back to step 1 on reporting a false UI Claim and keep the letter for your records. If you receive a debit card, do not activate it or contact Wells Fargo. You may destroy this card and/or upon your fraud report to NMDWS we will have the card closed for you. After reporting to NMDWS you may also call the customer service phone number for EPPICard at 1-866-898-2213 to report fraud and request for it be closed.
Individuals are also encouraged to take steps to protect their own identity including creating an account with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at www.identitytheft.gov. Through FTC an individual can create an Identity Theft Report and Identity Theft Dispute Letter. If individuals are not able to file online they may contact the Identity Theft Resource Center toll free at 888-400-5530 to report the identity theft.
- Complete and send in the fraud affidavit form if sent to you by the NMDWS UI Fraud Unit.
- For your protection, file a report with local police and retrieve a copy of your Identity Theft police report.
- Obtain a free copy of your credit report and review it for suspicious activity at www.annualcreditreport.com.
- Place a free fraud alert on your credit:
- Watch for fraudulent address changes with United States Postal Service.
- If you suspect that someone is using your Social Security Number (SSN) for work purposes, you should contact the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213 to report the problem. They will review your earnings with you to ensure they are correct. You can also review earnings posted to your social security statement http://www.socialsecurity.gov/mystatement for workers 18 and older.
- Additional information on identity theft and protecting your identity while online is available at https://www.nmag.gov/identity-theft.aspx. You may also report fraud to the New Mexico Attorney General’s office at https://www.nmag.gov/file-a-complaint.aspx.
Employers - Report Identity Theft
If a business receives correspondence from NMDWS for an employee who is still working, deceased, or never worked for the business, we ask that they report this the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS) immediately by taking the following steps:
Report all information you may have about the fraudulent claim by contacting NMDWS, including the following if you have it:
- Claimant ID number
- First and last name;
- If you do not have a claimant ID, but are able to provide the last 4 of the individuals Social Security Number (SSN), do not send the full SSN.
There are three ways to contact us to report a false claim and send in the requested information listed above:
- Send an email to id.verify@dws.nm.gov and put “Reported Fraud” in the subject line of the email
- Call the Fraud Hotline at 505-243-7283
- Call the Unemployment Insurance Operations Center at 1-877-664-6984
Please respond timely to notices you receive from NMDWS. If you receive a notice regarding a fraudulent claim write “Fraud/identity theft” on them so that we can investigate the claims and take appropriate actions. The most expedient way for employers to respond to Request for Separation forms is by responding via your online employer account in the New Mexico Unemployment Insurance Tax & Claims System or by using the State Information Data Exchange System (SIDES) portal.
Please share the Reporting Identity Theft for Individuals information with employees at your organization. This information includes important links and resources and other measures individuals can take to protect themselves.