The New York Department of Labor collaborates with different law enforcement agencies to find and prosecute criminals who have made fraudulent purchases with Excluded Workers Fund (EWF) prepaid cards.
According to the department, scammers use EWF recipients’ information to gain access to their assistance cards. Another tactic is to have the card suspended so it can be issued with a new address. In this way, criminals can use the funds of thousands of dollars for luxury purchases, according to reports from affected workers.
Workers wishing to report fraud should do so through the New York Attorney General’s website at http://on.ny.gov/agfraud or by calling their hotline at (800) 771-7755.
The Department of Labor urges recipients of the fund to review their credit report at http://ftc.gov and report any suspicious communications related to state assistance, such as calls, text messages or emails. Be aware that scammers may pose as state employees or send messages that appear official.
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