Michigan man's dog approved for unemployment

Michael Haddock, an attorney in Saugatuck, was surprised when he got a letter in the mail addressed to a Michael Ryder qualifying Ryder for unemployment benefits.

The problem? Ryder is the name of his dog.

Haddock posted the picture on Facebook over the weekend after he got the notification. It said Michael Ryder qualified for $360 every week.

Haddock said the employer listed on the letter was a restaurant chain in metro Detroit, according to WZZM-TV (Grand Rapids).

"I'm not sure what he's going to do with the money,'' Haddock joked.

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It was no laughing matter to Talent Investment Agency spokesman Chris DeWitt. Talent Investment Agency is a part of Unemployment Insurance Agency, which is cracking down on false claims that come from a criminal element.

The UIA announced it's creating a special investigative unit to handle the recent increase in false claims, according to WZZM.

The UIA said its computer system did send out the initial letter to Haddock's address, according to WZZM. However, it was flagged as suspicious during the next step in the unemployment process. The agency has since sent another letter to Haddock's address denying the claim.

"It's important to note that no money was paid out,'' DeWitt said. "Criminals get a hold of people's personal information like name, address and Social Security numbers and file a false claim. This is a crime. I saw the story and it was a case of incorrect information being sent to the UIA for a false claim. There have been data breaches that have happened over the last few years that has been obtained by criminals. Those criminals are using that information to file claims."

On Tuesday, TIA Director Wanda M. Stokes announced in a press release that the agency had put out a tip sheet on preventing identity theft.

"ID theft is a growing crime in all sectors, including unemployment fraud,'' Stokes said. "By taking a few simple steps individuals and businesses can prevent, or at least limit the damage, if there is an ID theft attempted.

"We have established a new Investigations Division to help combat illegal claims from being paid. We are also working with the National Unemployment insurance Integrity Center to make sure we are following the best practices to prevent fraud claims from being paid.''

The TIA issued steps individuals can take to protect themselves: