The agency also pays close attention to claims coming from other states known for fake claims, such as Florida, Master said.

After canceling a fictitious claim, Master said it is forwarded to the U.S. Labor Department Inspector General, the state Attorney General’s office and occasionally to local authorities.

For the Peters, he described what it was like to learn someone was trying to get unemployment in his name as unnerving.

“It’s really frustrating,” said Peters, who noted that the scammers even had supplied the OESC with their correct Social Security numbers in their attempt to defraud the state. He said he didn’t know how someone had their Social Security number.

Peters said he first became aware that his identity had been stolen when he received an award letter from the state this month notifying him of his benefits, based on the fraudulent claim. A few days later, their letter carrier recognized some mail at the post office that was addressed to their daughter, Peters said.

The letter carrier brought the mail to Peters since he knew them both. The OESC mailing was addressed to their daughter, but had been mailed to a Claremore apartment complex that she hasn’t lived in for years, he said.