Ahead of tax season, thousands of people who never filed for unemployment are getting statements saying they earned unemployment benefits. Don't Waste Your Money has information on the scam.
OF THE ASTRAZENECA VACC >>> THIS IS W-2 AND 1099 SEASON WHEN YOU GET THE STACK OF TAX STATEMENTS BUT PEOPLE ARE GETTING STATEMENTS THAT SAID THEY EARNED UNEMPLOYMENT. AND THAT'S WHEN THEY NEVER FILED FOR UNEMPLOYMENT. >> Reporter: MANY PEOPLE IN NORTH CAROLINA WHO NEVER THOUGHT THEY BECOME A VICTIM OF ID THEFT ARE HIT WITH A HARD REALITY. THEY ARE RECEIVING 1099 FORMS IN THE MAIL, CLAIMING THEY EARNED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS LAST YEAR. JOE McFARLAND IS STRUGGLING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S BEEN SHOWING UP IN HIS FAMILY'S MAILBOX.>> SHE GOT A 1099 FROM THE UNEMPLOYMENT. >> Reporter: HIS MOM, ALONG WITH, RECEIVED A 1099 FORM CLAIMED SHE RECEIVED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN UNEMPLOYMENT LAST YEAR.>> SHE IS 87 YEARS OLD. HASN'T WORKED IN YEARS. >> Reporter: WHILE CHECKING HIS MAIL? >> MY WIFE GOT ONE. >> Reporter: SHOWING THOUSANDS OF BENEFITS. DID YOUR WIFE EARN UNEMPLOYMENT? >> NO. >> Reporter: THIS IS NO JOKE, IF THIS INCLUDES YOUR NAME, ADDRESS AND LAST FOUR DIGITS OF YOUR SOCIAL, IT MEANS SOMEONE FILED FOR BENEFITS IN YOUR NAME.>> THEY ARE LIKELY A VICTIM OF IDENTITY THEFT. >> Reporter: PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY RECEIVED 1099 FORMS FOR ALL DIFFERENT STATES. THOMAS SAYS YOUR SOCIAL IS PROBABLY STOLEN IN A DATA BREACH. IF YOU GO TO THE UNEMPLOYMENT WEBSITE IMMEDIATELY. I THOUGHT A FRAUD REPORT TO THE STATE COULD SEND A CORRECTED 1099 TO THE IRS THAT SHOWS YOU DID NOT RECEIVE ANY BENEFITS.>> WE WILL SEND THEM A CORRECTED 1099 FORM THAT SAYS ZERO.>> Reporter: JOE THINKS IT IS OUTRAGEOUS THAT SOMEONE CAN GET BENEFITS UNDER YOUR NAME BUT THEY CAN. THIS IS ONE SCAM THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO RIP UP BECAUSE A COPY IS GOING TO THE IRS. SO REPORT