Minnesota unemployment fraud has two very different readers: the person who just got a letter or a 1099-G for a claim they never filed, and the claimant who wants to know what the state counts as fraud and what it costs.
This guide covers both — how to report Minnesota unemployment fraud, the identity-theft steps, how to get a corrected 1099-G, what counts as claimant fraud, the penalties and disqualification, and when it becomes a criminal case. Verified against Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Program as of October 2026.
Minnesota Unemployment Fraud at a Glance
| Report fraud | https://ui.mn.gov/fraud-report/ |
| Penalty | For a misrepresentation overpayment, the state requires you to repay it plus a penalty of 40 percent of the amount overpaid (Minn. |
| Disqualification | Under Minn. |
In This Minnesota Unemployment Fraud Guide:
How to Report Minnesota Unemployment Fraud
Report it at https://ui.mn.gov/fraud-report/. Reports can be made anonymously; the agency investigates both claimant and employer fraud.
Minnesota Unemployment Fraud in Your Name: If Someone Else Filed
- Submit a fraud report through the state’s online fraud form at ui.mn.gov/fraud-report so the agency can review the account and lock out the imposter
- If the fake claim was filed in another state, contact that state through the U.S. Department of Labor’s state directory
- File a report with the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud
- Visit identitytheft.gov/steps (FTC) to recover your identity and watch your credit
- Report it only once, because calling again to repeat the same report is not needed and will not get you a status update
Getting a Corrected 1099-G
The Minnesota Department of Revenue tells identity-theft victims to contact Minnesota Unemployment Insurance, report the fraud, and ask for a revised 1099-G showing they received no benefits. Keep the revised form with your records. If it has not arrived by the time you file, the state generally advises reporting only the income you actually received.
What Counts as Minnesota Unemployment Fraud by a Claimant
Minnesota calls claimant fraud “misrepresentation.” It means getting paid benefits by making a false statement without a good-faith belief that it was true (Minn. Stat. § 268.18, subd. 2). Examples include not reporting earnings, saying you were not working when you were, giving false work-search information, or misstating why your job ended.
Minnesota Unemployment Fraud Penalties and Disqualification
For a misrepresentation overpayment, the state requires you to repay it plus a penalty of 40 percent of the amount overpaid (Minn. Stat. § 268.18, subd. 2), with interest on unpaid balances. On top of that, Minn. Stat. § 268.183 allows an administrative penalty of 13 to 104 weeks of ineligibility. You have 45 calendar days to appeal these determinations. Under Minn.
Stat. § 268.183, the administrative penalty runs 13 to 104 weeks, and the agency may issue it within 48 months after the benefit account was set up. Under § 268.18, you also cannot get any unemployment benefits while you still owe money on a misrepresentation overpayment or penalty.
When Minnesota Unemployment Fraud Becomes a Criminal Case
Large or repeated fraud can be referred for prosecution; the amount that turns a civil penalty into a criminal charge is set by state law.
Employer-Side Minnesota Unemployment Fraud
Minn. Stat. § 268.182 makes it a crime for an employer, or its officer or agent, to knowingly make false statements or hide facts to avoid or lower unemployment tax payments, or to block or reduce a worker’s benefits. Minn. Stat. § 181.722 bars misclassifying employees as non-employees. Minn. Stat. § 268.051, subd. 4 covers moving a business’s tax-rate history between companies (the anti-“SUTA dumping” rule).
A worker can use the state’s online fraud form at ui.mn.gov/fraud-report. Confirm with the agency whether misclassification complaints go there or to the Department of Labor and Industry.
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Honest Mistakes Are Not Minnesota Unemployment Fraud
A wrong number on a weekly claim is a mistake, not fraud, if you correct it when you notice; fraud requires a knowing false statement. Fix it through the portal or by phone before the agency finds it.
If a misrepresentation overpayment, with its penalties and interest, is not repaid within ten years after the penalty determination, the commissioner must cancel the remaining balance (Minn. Stat. § 268.18). In Thigpen, a 2026 Minnesota Supreme Court opinion, the 40 percent penalty was challenged as an excessive fine. Only an excerpt was reviewed, which indicates it was upheld; confirm the holding in the full opinion.
Related: if the state says you were overpaid on your own claim, that is a different process — see the Minnesota overpayment guide for waivers, repayment plans and the appeal deadline.
Minnesota — the bottom line
- Report Minnesota unemployment fraud the same day you suspect it — an unreported claim in your name becomes an overpayment in your name.
- Minnesota unemployment fraud by a claimant means a knowing false statement; an honest mistake corrected promptly is not fraud.
- Penalties for Minnesota unemployment fraud stack: repayment, a monetary penalty, penalty weeks, and in large cases a criminal referral.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I report unemployment fraud in Minnesota?
Use the state fraud page (https://ui.mn.gov/fraud-report/).
Someone filed for unemployment in my name in Minnesota — what do I do?
Submit a fraud report through the state’s online fraud form at ui.mn.gov/fraud-report so the agency can review the account and lock out the imposter; If the fake claim was filed in another state, contact that state through the U.S. Department of Labor’s state directory; File a report with the U.S.
Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud; Visit identitytheft.gov/steps (FTC) to recover your identity and watch your credit; Report it only once, because calling again to repeat the same report is not needed and will not get you a status update
What is the penalty for unemployment fraud in Minnesota?
For a misrepresentation overpayment, the state requires you to repay it plus a penalty of 40 percent of the amount overpaid (Minn. Stat. § 268.18, subd.
Is an honest mistake on a weekly claim fraud in Minnesota?
No. Correct it as soon as you notice; fraud requires a knowing false statement.
Official Minnesota Sources & Resources
- Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Program: https://www.uimn.org/
- Report unemployment fraud in Minnesota: https://ui.mn.gov/fraud-report/
- Minnesota unemployment statute: Minn. Stat. ch. 268
- U.S. Department of Labor — Unemployment Insurance: dol.gov
- IRS — Form 1099-G: irs.gov
This Minnesota unemployment fraud guide was last verified against official Minnesota sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current figure with the state agency or a licensed attorney.
More Minnesota Unemployment Guides
- Minnesota Unemployment Overpayment: Waivers and Repayment
- Minnesota Unemployment Appeal: Deadline and Hearing
- Minnesota Unemployment Benefits: How Much and How Long
- Unemployment Guides for All 50 States
Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. My Unemployment Rights is an independent educational resource, not a government agency and not a law firm. Unemployment benefit amounts, deadlines and rules change — every figure here carries the date we verified it. Confirm the current figure and any deadline with your state unemployment agency before you act.