JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Many unemployed Floridians are reporting they’re getting locked out of their CONNECT accounts and are unable to collect benefits due to the Department of Economic Opportunity suspecting fraud.
Unemployment fraud is at an all-time high.
DEO’s security company, ID.me, said they’re finding more than 30% of new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims are fraudulent, so they’re on high alert.
The problem is, when accounts are locked out of precaution, it is taking a long time for the locks to be released.
“It's been 6 weeks I haven’t been able to claim,” said Jose Flores.
Flores changed his banking information weeks ago, raising a red flag to DEO.
He said he immediately completed the identity verification with ID.me that was requested.
“Right away it was verified, and it was like, ‘All right, we’re sending your information to DEO.’ And it’s been silent since,” Flores said.
Unemployment expert Vanessa Brito said locked accounts are the most widespread issue currently plaguing unemployed Floridians.
“God bless DEO and the state for trying to combat fraud, but every time they try to implement a new security protocol, it completely backfires,” Brito said.
Brito said in some cases, accounts are randomly locked by the department multiple times, almost as if it is a glitch.
“Twelve times. Twelve times I’ve been locked. Not one, not two, 12.” Said Joanne Santiago.
Santiago said her account used to be unlocked within a few days, but now she’s been locked out for over a month.
“That’s the only income I have right now, and I’m at the verge of being homeless,” Santiago said.
State Representative Anna Eskamani says most of the calls coming into her office are related to locked accounts
“As a result, people are losing their homes, they are living in their cars, becoming homeless,” Eskamani said. “They’re just trying to access benefits that are rightfully theirs.”
If your account is still locked after completing the steps through ID.me, Brito said the most effective step to take has been emailing agents who are known to help claimants in these situations.
Once verified by ID.me and you’re waiting on DEO to unlock your account, here’s a list of names and email addresses for helpful agents in the fraud department.
- Email each Person individually - do not cc or bcc anyone
- Send No More than 1-2 emails per day per agent
- Typically DEO doesn’t reply so check your account often
- Do not use Microsoft Outlook, 365. If you have an icloud email make sure it’s the one registered on CONNECT if it’s the one you’re going to use.
Tips for Email:
- Subject- Urgent Unlock Help Needed
- Your Name (exactly as it shows on CONNECT)
- Claimant ID
- Date of Birth
- Phone Number (exactly as it shows on CONNECT)
- Email Address (exactly as it shows on CONNECT)