GRAYSLAKE — State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) is warning Illinoisans about possible unemployment debit card fraud after multiple reports of people receiving cards they didn’t apply for. 

“There are so many people struggling to get legitimate unemployment benefits right now,” Bush said. “It’s sickening that there are people taking advantage of other people’s problems to perpetrate scams at a time like this.”

According to a recent report from ABC7 in Chicago, multiple people have received unemployment benefits even though they never applied for them. The Arlington Heights Police Department said it received nearly 20 reports in four days, and it’s working with the Illinois Department of Employment Security to get to the bottom of it. 

People who receive a debit card in the mail they didn’t apply for should do the following:

• Don’t activate the card
• Contact the bank and report fraud
• Report it as fraud to IDES
• Freeze their credit report
• Check their bank balances online
• File a police report

“Fraud and identify theft are real problems that need to be taken seriously,” Bush said. “If you suspect that you’re a victim of these crimes, report it immediately.”

People who believe they are a victim of this fraud should contact their local police department or IDES at 312-793-3200.