Wheaton police issue scam alert

Police in Wheaton are alerting residents to be aware of an identity theft scam related to pandemic unemployment insurance benefits.

More than 20 residents have received unsolicited unemployment insurance debit cards in the mail.

This indicates their personal or financial information may have been compromised. The scam is attempting to use the personal identifying information of residents to receive unemployment benefits provided through the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program.

Residents who receive this letter and debit card but did not sign up for the unemployment insurance benefit should not activate the card. Rather, they should file a police report with the Wheaton Police Department and call the Illinois Department of Employment Security at 1-800-814-0513 to report receiving the unsolicited card. Reports also can be filed through the IDES website.