Some victims of unemployment fraud in recent months are starting to worry they will be on the hook to pay taxes for money they didn鈥檛 receive.
Medina resident Nate Eppink says he was sitting at his desk at the park district where he works one day last month when his business manager walked in.
鈥淎nd she looked like she had seen a ghost. And she said, 鈥楧id you file for unemployment?," Eppink says.
He hadn鈥檛. But it turns out someone stole some of his personal information and filed for unemployment in his name. He鈥檚 not alone. Others in the area have also found out their identities are being used to collect unemployment. As the agency continues to pay it, he鈥檚 concerned.
鈥淚 certainly don鈥檛 want to end up paying taxes on a benefit I鈥檓 not receiving.鈥� Eppink says.
The director of the Ohio Dept of Job and Family Services, Kim Henderson, acknowledges the problem.
鈥淲e do know that fraud is an ongoing issue nationwide in this space.鈥�
Henderson said the agency is taking steps to address unemployment fraud situations.
As for the fallout from stolen identity, she suggests victims of unemployment fraud contact the Ohio Attorney General鈥檚 office. She says that office can help out with problems that results from the stolen identity. She doesn't think victims will be liable for taxes on money they didn't receive but she says the attorney general's office would likely have more information on how to handle that situation.
