Md. Labor detects more than 156k potentially fraudulent claims since Jan. 1

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — On Thursday, the Maryland Department of Labor released an update on their ongoing unemployment insurance fraud investigation.

Since December 2020 -- 388,830 in and out-of-state claims have been flagged.

Over 87 percent of those actually turned out to be fraudulent, while only 9.2 percent ended up being approved.

Still more than 14,300 claims remain under review.

Since the beginning of 2021 alone, the department says they've received 243,186 new claims -- 156,403 of which were flagged for potential fraud.

Md. Labor Dept.

The massive amount of fraud was first discovered in July totaling more than $500 million dollars, a number that's rapidly grown since.

Some fake identities used by the scammers have included Governor Larry Hogan, Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford and Labor Secretary TIffany Robinson.

RELATED: Gov. Hogan, other high-ranking government officials targeted in unemployment fraud scheme

If you believe that your information has been used to fraudulently file an unemployment insurance claim, please contact The Maryland Department of Labor’s Division of Unemployment Insurance by emailing ui.fraud@maryland.gov.

To receive updates and additional information about unemployment insurance programs in Maryland, visit MDunemployment.com.