Unemployment fraud continues to be an issue that plagues employers in Nevada and nationwide. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic and the barrage of layoffs as a result of mandatory closures and stay-at-home orders created the perfect landscape for those seeking to benefit financially from others’ misfortune.

We have heard from many member organizations that have received fraudulent claims for employees that were never laid off, never had their hours reduced, and are still employed. It’s unnerving receiving one fraudulent unemployment claim, but many businesses are receiving multiple right now.

Over the last several months, we have been advising employers on how they and their affected employees can report any fraudulent claims. Recently, the Nevada Department of Training, Rehabilitation, and Training, better known as DETR, released a guide for employers and employees on how to report unemployment fraud in Nevada.

In addition to reporting the fraudulent claim through DETR’s Unemployment Insurance Fraud Reporting Form, the guide provides information on how employees can report the fraud to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Social Security Administration.

We strongly encourage employers review the employment fraud guide and share it with employees who have fraudulent claims filed in their name.