New security system for Kansas Department of Labor blocks one million false claims in first week

A new security system for the unemployed insurance claim portal through the Kansas Department of Labor website has successfully blocked hundreds of thousands of fraudulent claims in just the first week of its launch.

The new identity verification software system went live Feb. 2 after the portal was shut down for a few days to install new security.

Over one million fraudulent login attempts and BOT attacks (the use of automated web requests to manipulate or disrupt a website, application or end-users online) have been stopped since its launch through the morning of Feb. 8, according to the labor department.

“One of the goals of this security software upgrade was to stop the flood of fraudulent claims the Department of Labor has been dealing with, and with over one million fraudulent logins and BOT attacks blocked, we are seeing immediate success,” Acting Secretary of Labor Amber Shultz said. “We expect these results to continue and drive a decline or outright elimination in fraudulent benefit notices that businesses and individuals in Kansas have been receiving.”

The progress made on blocking fraudulent activity has already reduced some of the strain on the KDOL unemployment insurance IT system.

With the new system, login credentials used prior to the security system upgrade can no longer be used. Every claimant will now have to recreate new credentials and will be required to verify her or his identity by answering questions specific to the person’s credit history.

So far, over 55,500 people have been successfully verified by the new system, according to the labor department.