RIVERSIDE – (INT) – Police are warning that unemployment mail fraud is spreading.

The RPD’s Economic Crimes Unit is getting increased complaints from individuals who say their identity has been stolen by individuals to get fraudulent unemployment benefits from the State Department of Employment Department (EDD).

The EDD is suggesting that recipients of unintended mail should return it to the Postal Service and marked “return to sender.”

Police say that suspects of this mail fraud scheme are showing up at homes and taking the incoming and returned mail from the mailboxes. Some residents have even been contacted at their home, then coerced and threatened into relinquishing the EDD mail.

In a statement Monday, Riverside police said it appears that EDD is completely overwhelmed with questions, complaints, and reports related to legitimate unemployment claims and fraudulent applications.

Story Date: October 2, 2020