Imagine our surprise to receive an email that Chamber President Susan Williams was a claimant for unemployment! Since that email, sent in early July, we have learned of dozens of businesses and hundreds of employees who are victims of identity theft and unemployment fraud.

Along with others, we are still navigating the steps to take to best protect ourselves and correct the misinformation. We will share what we can, but recommend that anyone impacted immediately visits the website www.uc.pa.gov and file a fraud report. 

It has also been recommended that the employer and employee communicate with each other, each file a report with their local police department, and monitor credit and payroll reports.  

Help us understand the impact of unemployment fraud in our area by completing a short survey.

We will share the data collected (without personal information) with local elected officials who may be able to elevate the issue at a state level. Feel free to share this link with others you know have been affected:

members.venangochamber.org/form/view/23607

This article was published in the Venango Chamber’s August 2021 VenangoWorks! Newsletter.