AVOID 2012 UNEMPLOYMENT EXTENSION SCAMS
Federal unemployment benefits have been extended for the first two months of 2012 (through February) but you have to make sure you go to your state’s website to find out if you qualify for them. Unemployment benefits are a state by state matter and they all have different regulations, procedures, and forms you need to fill out.
Make sure you only file for unemployment at official state sites that end with .gov which means they are government websites. This is very important because all legitimate state government websites that have to do with unemployment will have that .gov extension. Don’t give your name or file information to any other websites that make promises that they will help you get unemployment benefits. Most importantly, don’t ever pay money. Filing for unemployment benefits is free and any website that charges is NOT legitimate.
Many websites want your name and email address so they can try to sell you something later. Some websites will give you a free eBook or something else that is free as an incentive for you to sign up. This does not always mean that they are shady or a scam but it does mean that they want your name on their mailing list so they can try to make money from you later on.
Unemployment scams are online and they target people who have lost their jobs and are desperate. They prey on people’s fear by making it sound like only they have the solution and many people fall for this trick. It is easy for anyone to build professional looking websites that look legitimate so it is easy to be fooled. All you need to remember is that for unemployment benefits and extensions, you must go to your state unemployment office or to their website that ends with .GOV!
