In the process of revamping the State's unemployment insurance website to handle the increase in unemployment claims due to coronavirus, the State's website experienced a data breach in which approximately 32,000 people's names, social security numbers and addresses were made accessible. 

 

At least one IFCA member reported receiving a letter this week from the IL Dept of Employment Security (IDES) notifying them of someone claiming unemployment on their business, even though the person named in the letter had not filed unemployment and was not unemployed.  Please be aware that this databreach can impact employers of all sizes, and the IDES system is set up in such a way that employers have very little time to protest a false filing in order to stop it.  As you can imagine, the IDES phone lines are busy and it can take hours to get through to someone.  But you can fax in a protest letter to IDES as well if you receive a fraudulent claim.  Just be sure to respond right away if you receive such a letter with a fraudulent claim.  

 

We wanted to make our members aware of this situation.  The State of Illinois is in the process of notifying the 32,000+ people whose personal data was exposed in the breach.