EDD won't verify North Bay woman's identity until she enters the wrong information

Tuesday, January 19, 2021
NOVATO, Calif. -- Time is running out for the 1.4 million workers who suddenly were cut off from unemployment benefits.

The EDD gives them 10 days to prove they are not fraudsters or lose their benefits -- possibly for good.

RELATED: Class action lawsuit filed against Bank of America for rampant unemployment fraud

But many are hitting roadblocks trying to verify their identities. One woman shows what happened when she tried to verify - a surprising result.
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This viewer tried for days to prove her identity using the EDD's new system -- called "ID.me." Then she put in the wrong information - that changed everything.

When we last saw Tarri O'Donnell of Novato she was desperately trying to prove she's really Tarri O'Donnell. "I uploaded my passport, my driver's license," she told us.



"Then it asked me to hold the phone up to my face and it did a scan of my face," she said.

RELATED: EDD demands 1.4 million jobless prove their identity or lose benefits; ID verification isn't easy

She'd uploaded her documents and her "face" into EDD's "ID.me" verification system.

It wasn't good enough.

"They said they could not verify me," said O'Donnell.



The program said an agent would soon come online for a live interview.

"It says I have four hours and 53 minutes of wait time!" O'Donnell exclaimed.

WATCH: Former California cybercriminal reveals how easy it is to fool the EDD
Former cybercriminal shows how easy it is to fool CA EDD


Instead, she got disconnected. Then rejected... it happened three times.

"Curse words were coming out of my mouth today, like, are you kidding me?" she asked.



Tuesday we are watching as O'Donnell tries once again.

"I'm still here at the beginning..." she explains. "So, it's taken my driver's license..."

Now the facial scan. She's supposed to keep a straight face.

RELATED: California Unemployment: EDD investigating 255 criminal claims, sharp increase from 2019

O'Donnell laughs. "It won't take my face if I'm laughing..."



Now "ID.me" automatically shows her information. But the address is wrong.

"It lets me edit, so I'm gonna change that," said O'Donnell.
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She puts in her correct address, hits confirm, and waits.

"It says 'unable to verify with the phone number provided.' This is ridiculous!" she exclaims.

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More than $8B paid to criminals in EDD fraud


Would a different phone number work?

"I'm gonna try to use my girlfriend's phone. I wonder if she's home...." said O'Donnell.

She had once shared that phone with her friend.

But that doesn't work either.

"I'm no closer to being identified," she says.

She starts over. And again, ID.me auto-populates that incorrect address.

"Maybe I should leave that address in here. I'm gonna leave it," O'Donnell said.

So she does. Hits send...

RELATED: California unemployment: EDD freezes pay for thousands of workers on New Year's Day

"Wouldn't that be funny if... " she starts. Then she gasps. "What? Ohh!" O'Donnell laughs.

It worked! ID.me verifies her identity - but only with the wrong address.

"Are you kidding me? They have the wrong address, but that's okay with them..." she says. "Woo hoo!"

That incorrect address was one O'Donnell used six years ago. Makes you wonder how reliable the system is. 7 On Your Side has reached out to ID.me about why an old address worked, but not the correct one.

Take a look at more stories and videos by Michael Finney and 7 On Your Side.

Have a question for Michael and the 7 On Your Side team? Fill out the form HERE!
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