The Alabama Department of Labor is warning Alabamians receiving unemployment compensation to be wary of fraud and to protect their personal identifying information, officials announced Wednesday.

ADOL officials unveiled a new fraud portal at https://labor.alabama.gov/Fraud/ to help Alabama residents report unemployment compensation fraud, which officials say is on the increase.

According to officials, unemployment compensation fraud has always occurred, but instances are increasing significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a problem that is occurring nationwide, as unscrupulous individuals and crime rings are attempting to defraud states of millions of dollars in unemployment compensation benefits.

“During these trying and unprecedented times, we are advising all citizens that there are always individuals who are trying to run afoul of the law and cheat the system. Regardless of whether you may have filed a claim or not, please be vigilant about monitoring your personal and financial information and to notify us of any issues,” said Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington.

People who believe their information has been used to file an unemployment compensation claim, or those who would like to report any other type of unemployment compensation fraud, can report it online at ADOL’s new fraud portal at: https://labor.alabama.gov/Fraud/. Citizens should also contact their local law enforcement agencies, to file an appropriate police report.