Workers’ Compensation Hearing Scams — How They Work and How to Protect Yourself

Recent fraud alerts from the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation (SBWC) and the U.S. Department of Labor warn of a growing nationwide scam targeting workers’ compensation claimants. Scammers impersonate courts, judges, attorneys, or government officials to schedule fraudulent virtual hearings and demand payment for benefits or settlements.

How the Scam Works

  • Contact methods: Victims are often contacted by phone, email, or video call.
  • False urgency: Scammers claim you must pay a fee to receive benefits or settle your claim, sometimes threatening to withhold benefits if you don’t comply.
  • Fake hearings: They may direct you to set up a “hearing” on WhatsApp or other unsecured platforms, where actors play the roles of judge, bailiff, attorney, and prosecutor in a staged court proceeding.
  • Data theft: After the fake hearing, they request personal information (e.g., Social Security numbers, banking details) and payment methods (gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency).
  • Targeting: Some scams specifically target Spanish-speaking individuals.

Red Flags to Watch For

  • Demands for payment to receive benefits or settlements.
  • Urgent calls to act immediately.
  • Use of WhatsApp or other unsecured platforms for hearings.
  • Requests for gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
  • Claims you must “pay to settle” or “pay to receive benefits”.

Official Processes vs. Scam Tactics

  • Official forms are available only from the state’s official site.
  • All attorneys must be licensed in the state.
  • No payment is ever required to release benefits.

Scam tactics:

  • No official written notice.
  • Use of unsecured platforms like WhatsApp.
  • Pressure to pay immediately.
  • Requests for non-traditional payment methods.

What to Do If You Receive a Suspicious Message

  1. Do not send money or personal information.
  2. Do not click suspicious links.
  3. Verify before acting by contacting the official state workers’ compensation customer service line, (404) 656-3818. 
  4. Report the scam to the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation, Enforcement Division.  (See contact information below)

Reporting

Early reporting helps prevent others from becoming victims. In Georgia, you can contact:

Bottom line: If you receive a request for payment or personal information in connection with a workers’ compensation hearing, especially via WhatsApp or unsecured platforms, it is almost certainly a scam. Always verify through official channels before complying.

Recognizing Common Scams

Recognizing common signs of a scam can help you avoid costly mistakes. Scammers exploit publicly available information and often pretend to be Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) employees. They will claim there’s some sort of problem with your filing, pressure you to act immediately, and demand that you pay a fee or provide personal information.

Some will even call you and use names, numbers, and locations of real OWCP employees to try to steal your money or personal information.

Signs to Watch Out For

  • SBWC employees NEVER ask for your payment information over email or text messages, nor will they ever require payment via wire transfer, gift cards, cash, check, or money order to third-party addresses.
  • Scammers often demand immediate action or payment that is not actually due and is usually paired with a threat of losing your benefits if you don’t comply. Authentic SBWC communications will not threaten or make demands and will provide written correspondence when collecting payment information or informing you about benefit changes.
  • Official U.S. Department of Labor and SBWC website addresses end in “.gov,” and emails directly from SBWC end in either “@sbwc.ga.gov” or “@dol.gov.”
  • SBWC stands for “State Board of Workers’ Compensation.” Any variation of that agency name is not part of the SBWC, such as “Workers’ Compensation Board,” “State Workers’ Compensation Board,” or “Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.”
  • Some individuals or companies may say that they’re recommended by SBWC. SBWC does not recommend specific individuals or companies to assist in any way with the processing of claims filed.

Common Scams

Keep an eye out for the common scams described below.

Spoofing Websites

Website spoofing is when scammers copy the agencies/SBWC websites hoping you mistake the fake websites for the official ones. Their goal is usually to steal your personal or payment information.

Look closely at the website domain name if you click on a link or see a website and suspect it may be a scammer. The official Department of Labor and SBWC domains are ‘sbwc.gov’ or ‘dol.gov.’ For example:

www.sbwc.georgia.com (spoofed website)
https://sbwc.georgia.gov (official website)

If you see a spoofed SBWC website, do not enter any personal information and report it to [email protected].