The NLCRPD continues to advise residents of a widespread crime relating to the fraudulent enrollment of individuals into the Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation (UC) system. The reporting and investigation of unemployment benefits fraud is not only occurring but is escalating in the four municipalities within the primary NLCRPD Police Department jurisdiction. Since June 1, 2021 over 126 reports were filed by residents with the NLCRPD concerning fraudulent activities.

Common factors concerning the fraud include the notice to the victim by their employer of a claim being filed. In many cases the victim received unrequested unemployment paperwork from the state, and/or received unemployment benefits payments for which they did not apply, typically on a debit card. In addition, victims also received a 1099G tax form indicating that they were paid unemployment.

Victims of unemployment fraud are encouraged to report it to the Office of Unemployment Compensation to local police. The Office of Unemployment Compensation also requests that victims file a police report with the municipality in which you resided at the time the unemployment benefits in question were paid. A copy of the police report must be provided to the Office of Unemployment Compensation according to the agency webpage.

To facilitate reporting of this crime the NLCRPD is providing the following reporting information to residents who may discover they are victims of this crime. This link provides a direct source of reporting by victims to the Office of Unemployment Compensation. https://benefits.uc.pa.gov/ .

To meet the reporting requirement for the local police as established by the Office of Unemployment Compensation, residents of Clay Township, Penn Township, Warwick Township or East Petersburg Borough, may report the incident at the following: https://crimewatch.net/us/pa/lancaster/northern-lancaster-county-regiona... (NLCRPD.org). Follow the tab marked FORMS and drop to the first tab marked as ONLINE REPORTING. The crime may also be reported using the NLCRPD Police Dispatch line at : (717) 664-1180 or (800) 957-2677

In addition, there are several web pages available to further assist residents who have fallen victim to this fraud or fraud related to the distribution of pandemic related benefits. These include specific reporting sites to directly providing further guidance and reporting. https://www.uc.pa.gov/PUA https://www.uc.pa.gov/unemployment-benefits/file/Pages/Filing-for-PEUC.aspx https://benefits.uc.pa.gov/ https://www.dlisecureweb.pa.gov/FRTS/BenefitsFraud.aspx

The Office of Unemployment Compensation also provides the following telephone listing for the PA Fraud Hotline at 1-800-692-7469