July 23, 2026

By Lane Kimble

Scammers are targeting injured workers in Wisconsin, tricking them into paying “fees” while claiming they’ve been awarded money.

The state Department of Workforce Development says workers receive an email telling them to participate in an online compensation hearing involving a fake agency called the “Workers Compensation Board.”

The message generally comes from .org email domains such as “@workcompcourt.org.”

Victims sign onto a video hearing via Zoom, Teams or WhatsApp and often see people who claim to be a judge, bailiff, and attorneys.

The scam primarily targets Spanish-speaking people.

The Wisconsin DWD says it only schedules workers compensation hearings through written letters.  All attorneys handling workers’ compensation cases in Wisconsin must be licensed to practice law here and all telephone numbers to talk with the state DWD have Wisconsin area codes.

If you or one of your employees have received a suspicious message like this scam, please call the DWD at (608) 266-1340.

You can learn more about the scam and reporting fraud HERE.