NH Attorney General: Beware Of Coronavirus Unemployment Scams

CONCORD, NH — State officials are warning the public, especially those who are unemployed and trying to access benefits, to be wary of unsolicited requests for personal information. According to a news release from the attorney general's office, new scams, targeting the unemployed, are on the rise. While specific cases have not been reported in New Hampshire, officials warn that residents seeking government benefits are "an attractive target" for scammers.

"(We) want people to be prepared to prevent themselves from falling victim to this type of scam," said Kate Spiner, the director of communications for the attorney general.

Employment Security, as an example, will never send a text message via cell phone asking for information. The department won't request credit card information either. If you receive what appears to be a fraudulent phone call, hang up immediately and call the Unemployment Assistance Hotline 603-271-7700.

Spiner said Employment Security doesn't partner with outside orgs for processing or payment of benefits — and filing for benefits is free. But applicants may receive a call during "non-traditional business hours," due to the call and request volume for benefits — since around 60,000 New Hampshire residents, about 9 percent of workers in the state, filed for benefits during the past three weeks, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

More safety tips include:

• Hang up the phone if you are uncomfortable. If you previously registered for New Hampshire unemployment benefits at call back the Unemployment Assistance Hotline at 603-271-7700.
• Never provide any personal information such as your social security number or date of birth without verifying the person with whom you are communicating
• Never provide any banking information without verifying the person with whom you are communicating;
• Never deposit suspicious or unexpected checks into your account. Remember that even if your bank makes funds available from a deposit that does not mean the check is good. It could still be fraudulent or forged and you could be responsible to replace those funds;
• Never wire funds to strangers. Make sure you know the person very well before sending them money through a wire service like Western Union or MoneyGram;
• Do not open any unsolicited emails or attachments if they are not from a familiar or trusted source or contain suspicious subject lines or no subject line at all even if from a recognized sender;
• Beware of emails that link to a website that lacks details about who is running the company, where it is based or does not have a phone number to contact the company; and
• If the offer appears "too good to be true," it probably is.

To report a scam, contact the Consumer Protection Hotline by phone at 1-888-468-4454, by email DOJ-CPB@doj.nh.gov, or online.

Help Stop The Spread Of COVID-19

COVID-19, not unlike the flu and other respiratory illnesses, is spread through respiratory droplets, usually through coughing and sneezing, and exposure to others who are sick or might be showing symptoms.

Health officials emphasize residents should follow these recommendations:

• Avoid any domestic and international travel, especially on public transportation such as buses, trains, and airplanes.
• Practice social distancing. Stay at least 6 feet from other people, including distancing while in waiting areas or lines.
• Anybody who is told to self-quarantine and stay at home due to exposure to a person with confirmed or suspect COVID-19 needs to stay home and not go out into public places.
• If you are 60 years or older or have chronic medical conditions, you need to stay home and not go out.
• Avoid gatherings of 10 people or more.
• Employers need to move to telework as much as possible.
• There is increasing evidence that this virus can survive for hours or possibly even a few days on surfaces, so people should clean frequently touched surfaces, including door handles, grocery carts and grocery basket handles, etc.

Take the same precautions as you would if you were sick:

• Stay home and avoid public places when sick (i.e., social distancing).
• Cover mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing.
• Wash hands frequently.
• Disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

More information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services about coronavirus can be found here on the department's website.

• Guidance to schools can be found can be found here.
• Instructions for returning travelers to self-observe for symptoms of COVID-19 are available are available here.
• For more information on COVID-19 in NH, visit its site here.
• For the latest information from the CDC, visit its site here.

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• Girl Scouts Earn Silver Awards Making Coronavirus Face Masks
• Coronavirus Leads 27,454 To File For Unemployment In NH
• Coronavirus in NH: 4th Patient Dies, 415 Cases With More Likely

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