Michigan Resumes 140K Jobless Payments After Fraud Concerns

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The state of Michigan said Friday it resumed unemployment benefits for 140,000 of 340,000 accounts that were frozen amid an investigation of potentially fraudulent claims filed by impostors.

The payments are being made "within days" of accounts being validated, according to the announcement that came a week after the state said payments had been halted to 340,000. Criminals are using previously stolen or false personal information from data breaches at Equifax and others to apply.

"It's extremely upsetting that the actions of these fraudsters have delayed payments meant for our working families," Steve Gray, director of the Unemployment Insurance Agency, said in a statement. "While we continue to work with our state and federal partners to stop this unlawful activity, our focus remains on doing everything we can to quickly validate authentic claims and get our workers the emergency financial assistance they need."

The agency said people made more than 50,000 reports of unemployment fraud and identity theft in their name since March 15. More than 40,000 reports came since May 1.

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