Important Reminder from Virginia Employment Commission (VEC)

IMPORTANT UPDATE: The Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) is aware of the difficulty individuals are experiencing in successfully contacting them through the recommended toll-free number. They have provided new guidance for individuals to report fraudulent claims (see the numbered list below):

NOVA has received word from the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) that unemployment claim benefit letters are being sent to some individuals who are actively employed and have not filed unemployment claims, including some employees who have even been informed of their “unemployment benefit qualified amounts.”

While we do not know the details or reasoning for these invalid claims, employees receiving related correspondence from the VEC who did not file for benefits should note the following:

1. State employees that suspect fraud may email Roy Bryant, an Unemployment Compensation Supervisor with the VEC.
2. Employees should provide their full name, the last 4 digits of their SSN and the best daytime phone number where they can be reached. (When possible, we suggest these emails be encrypted.)
3. Send an email to Employee Relations at employeerelations@nvcc.edu, advising that a fraudulent claim was submitted on the employee’s behalf. Do not include any notifications received.

As a reminder, there are also multiple scams circulating during these times. Most legitimate organizations will not ask for personal information over the phone such as Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, dates of birth, etc. Please be vigilant and do not provide sensitive information over the phone or in the body of email messages.