Con artists targeting Idaho's jobless claimants

January 24, 2012

The Idaho Department of Labor has received a number of reports recently of unemployment insurance benefit claimants being asked to provide personal financial information over the telephone to a person identifying himself as associated with a bank. The department is unaware of any issues involving banks and unemployment insurance benefits and urges claimants to hang up if they receive such calls. The incidents reported to the department on Monday involved calls from a restricted number – one that is not identified by Caller ID. The caller identified himself as being with a major bank and then asked for personal financial information. Claimants who receive such calls and believe there is reason for concern about their unemployment benefit payment and their bank accounts should hang up and then call their bank directly if they have direct deposit or if they have a debit card. The U.S. Bank ReliaCard customer service is (866) 276-5114. Debit card claimants should specifically say the call involves possible phishing for financial information to possibly avoid what could be a $3 charge if they have already made at least three calls in the month to U.S. Bank ReliaCard customer service.