AEP Employees Targeted By Unemployment Scams

Scammers are still trying to take advantage of the health and economic impacts of coronavirus.  One of the most common scams is filing false unemployment claims. More than 350+ AEP employees – including senior executives – have been targeted by this scam.

Criminals use employees’ [Personally Identifiable Information (PII)] to file false unemployment claims. Many of these claims include a mixture of valid and fabricated data. Our Security team has investigated several of these reports and determined that the data was not stolen from AEP, based on current information. These false claims are affecting companies across the country.

What to do if you discover your PII has been used

If your PII has been used to file a false unemployment claim, here’s what you should do:

• Notify your local HR contact.
• Report the identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at www.identitytheft.gov.  You can also create a Personal Recovery Plan on the website.
• Report the identity theft to the state unemployment agency in which the fa50 claim was filed.
• File a police report with your local precinct.

Please be aware you may experience extended wait times due to a high volume of calls.

How to protect yourself from coronavirus scams and other identity theft threats

Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself:

• Please review any notifications you may get from your state’s unemployment agency.  You may receive information that someone is attempting to file for benefits using your identity.
• Place a fraud alert on your credit report to make it harder for identity thieves to open accounts in your name.
• Consider placing a credit freeze to lock down your credit.
• Use these tips to avoid coronavirus-specific and other identity theft scams.

AllClear is available to help

AEP employees who are the victim of fraud or identity theft can use AllClear to advocate on their behalf. An AllClear investigator will contact financial institutions and help secure accounts to prevent additional losses. There’s no need to register – simply call 1-855-227-9830 if you have an issue with your identity information.  It also offers identity theft insurance up to $1 million in covered losses.

You can also register for AllClear’s Credit Monitoring. AllClear will monitor your credit bureau account for inquiries related to new credit applications. You’ll be notified by phone or email when activity is detected.  You must enroll to participate and you have the option to renew your enrollment each year:

• If you’re enrolled in AEP’s medical plan, use this link: https://portal.allclearid.com/enrollment/4?PCD=ANTHEMCARES2021
• If you’re not enrolled in AEP’s medical plan, use this link: https://www.experianidworks.com/RR1Bplus (Enter access code “AEPSECURE”)

Call 1-855-227-9830 for assistance with registration from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. ET, Monday – Saturday.