Hawks Quindel attorney Gabriel Manzano was quoted in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s November 6, 2026 story, “Scammers target Wisconsin residents with workers’ comp cases,” by Public Investigator reporter Tamia Fowlkes. The article looks at a fraud scheme in which scammers stage fake workers’ compensation hearings, tell injured workers they’ve won their case, and then demand money to release the benefits.
“People with an open workers’ comp claim are often out of work, behind on bills and waiting on money they need. That’s exactly who these scammers go after,” said Manzano, who represents injured workers from the firm’s Madison office. “A real judge will never ask you to pay to get your benefits, and a real hearing notice won’t show up as a WhatsApp invite.”
The scam usually starts with an email from a group with an official-sounding name like the “Workers’ Compensation Board,” often sent from a “.org” address such as @workcompcourt.org. The worker is invited to an online “hearing” on WhatsApp, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams, where people play a judge, a bailiff, and attorneys. After a “ruling” in the worker’s favor, the worker is told to pay a fee to finalize the case. Some victims are also asked for bank information, Social Security numbers, or gift cards. The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) has said the scheme mainly targets Spanish-speaking workers.
According to DWD, the Worker’s Compensation Division schedules hearings only by written letter. Any attorney handling a Wisconsin workers’ comp case must be licensed in Wisconsin, and real DWD phone numbers use Wisconsin area codes. If you get a suspicious message, don’t send money or share financial information. Save copies of the messages and call your lawyer, or reach a DWD workers’ compensation specialist at (608) 266-1340. If you think your identity has been stolen, call Wisconsin’s Consumer Protection Hotline at (800) 422-7128.
For more on spotting these schemes, read our full guide to workers’ compensation scams. Injured workers who don’t have a lawyer can contact Hawks Quindel for a free case screening. We take calls in English and Spanish.