Read on Twitter
New York State residents: There is a widespread fraud scheme happening now to steal your identity for unemployment insurance. I was a victim, and it involves no breach. The scheme is elaborate. I'll post an article and explain in further posts 1/7 https://www.whec.com/news/consumer-alert-the-scam-that-could-steal-your-identity-and-your-car-what-you-need-to-do/6075663/
I received a policy letter from @progressive for a car insurance policy for my car, with my license plate and VIN number, and my home address. It was paid for, one payment, by someone I didn't recognize. 2/7
The scammers are taking advantage of car insurance companies having access to people's DMV records to buy an insurance policy for them from websites. After the policy is purchased, they then solicit and receive your driver's license number from the insurance company 3/7
and use it to apply for unemployment benefits through the state in your name. They then stop paying for your insurance policy, which affects your credit records and your insurance status at DMV, which may then send you a notification of insurance lapse. 4/7
The amount of damage such thieves can do just having your driver's license number is immense. I've spent hours trying to fix this. Insurance companies, DMV, and NYS fraud and identity theft are aware, but still need individuals to be on the look out and report thefts. 5/7
Here's what to look out for; any mail, even if it looks like junk, that is coming from an auto insurance company, open it, don't throw it away! See if it says you have a new policy with them that you never bought. 6/7
If so, keep the documents, assume thieves have your driver's license number, call the company to rescind the policy, call the DMV insurance bureau, and call NYS identity crime unit 518-473-6464, they'll tell you what to do. 7/7
