RI State Police Investigating Reported Unemployment Fraud

CRANSTON, RI — The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training has received tens of thousands of unemployment insurance claims since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in the state. Rhode Island State Police are investigating reports of claims fraudulently file in residents' names, and are asking for potential victims to step forward.

Anyone who did not file an unemployment claim but received a claim from the DLT saying one had been filed in their name is asked to report the potential fraud on the state police's website. If a report has already been filed with state or local police does not need to do so again, the department said.

Gov. Gina Raimondo said the fraud is believed to be the work of several "bad actors" rather than a systemic issue at the DLT. Residents who filed a legitimate unemployment claim and have had their account frozen are asked to reach out to the department directly.

"We don't want to freeze the accounts of people who need it," Raimondo said.

Reaching out to the department directly helps speed the fraud investigation process and get money back to those who need it, the governor said.