Imagine you’re a few weeks into recovering from a work injury. Your claim is moving slowly, the bills are piling up, and an email arrives from the “Workers’ Compensation Board.” It says a hearing has been scheduled in your case, that your attendance is required, and that you need to pay legal fees beforehand. It looks official. It uses the right words. Unfortunately, it is a scam. On October 20, 2026, the Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court issued a fraud alert warning that injured workers are receiving exactly this kind of email. At Johnson, Tabor, & Johnson Law, LLC, we represent injured workers across Nebraska and Iowa, and we want you to know how to spot these messages. If you’re not sure whether something you received is real, you can call us and we’ll help you find out.
What the Court Is Warning About
According to the Court’s news release, the scam emails claim to come from the “Workers’ Compensation Board” and are sent from a fake email domain, @workcompcourt.org. The message says a court hearing has been set, tells the worker they must attend, and asks for payment of legal fees.
None of that is how the Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court operates. There is no “Workers’ Compensation Board” in Nebraska, and the Court does not charge injured workers to attend their own hearings. The scam relies on the fact that most injured workers have never been through the system before and don’t know what a real notice looks like.
What a Real Notice of Hearing Will Never Do
The Court spelled out the warning signs plainly. A genuine Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court Notice of Hearing will not:
- Ask You to Pay Legal Fees: The Court does not demand payment from injured workers to schedule or attend a hearing.
- Come from “workcompcourt.org”: That domain has nothing to do with the Court. The Court’s official website is newcc.gov.
- Mention the U.S. or Nebraska Department of Labor: Neither agency is involved in issuing hearing notices for Nebraska workers’ compensation cases.
- Refer to “The Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims”: That is not the Court’s name.
- Refer to “The Workers’ Compensation Board”: Nebraska has no such board.
- Refer to a “State File Number”: Nebraska cases are not identified that way.
- Include Live Links to Websites, Phone Numbers, or Addresses: Clickable contact information in a “court notice” is a red flag.
- Email You Directly in Most Cases: The Court generally emails an injured worker only if the worker has an attorney or has specifically asked the Court to send notices by email.
If an email you received does even one of these things, treat it as fraudulent.
Why Injured Workers Are Being Targeted
Scammers go after injured workers for a reason. People recovering from an injury are often off work, short on money, and anxious about whether their claim will be paid. A message that threatens a missed court date, or promises that a payment will move the case forward, is designed to get you to act before you think. The Nebraska scam is part of a broader pattern. Labor and workers’ compensation agencies in several other states have issued similar warnings this year about impersonators posing as judges, court staff, and attorneys.
What to Do If You Receive a Suspicious Email
If you get an email, text, or call about your workers’ compensation case that doesn’t feel right:
- Don’t Pay Anything: No legitimate workers’ compensation process requires you to send money to get a hearing, benefits, or a settlement.
- Don’t Click Links or Call Numbers in the Message: Contact information inside a suspicious message may lead straight back to the scammer.
- Don’t Share Personal Information: Never provide your Social Security number, bank details, or claim information in response to an unexpected message.
- Save the Message: Keep the email, including the sender’s address. It may help investigators.
- Verify Independently: Contact the Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court using the information on its official website, newcc.gov, or call (800) 599-5155. Do not use the contact information in the suspicious message.
- Call a Workers’ Compensation Attorney: If you have questions about whether a notice is real, call us.
We’ll Help You Figure Out If It’s Legitimate
Most injured workers have never seen a real court notice. When something arrives claiming to be from a court, an insurer, or a government agency, it’s hard to know whether to trust it. That’s where we can help. If you receive an email, letter, text, or phone call about your workers’ compensation claim and aren’t sure it’s legitimate, call our office. We’ll look at what you received and tell you whether it appears genuine. We’ll also tell you what, if anything, you need to do next.
If you already have an attorney, your lawyer should be your first call. When a worker is represented, the Court and the insurance company communicate through counsel, so an unexpected “court” email sent directly to you is all the more suspicious.
Why an Attorney Is Crucial in a Workers’ Compensation Claim
Scams like this succeed when injured workers are left to navigate the system alone. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney can:
- Handle Communications for You: Once you are represented, notices and correspondence about your case go through your attorney.
- Track Real Deadlines and Hearings: We monitor your case so you know which dates actually matter.
- Deal with the Insurance Company: We protect you from adjusters looking to minimize or deny your claim.
- Pursue the Full Benefits You’re Owed: That includes medical care, wage-loss benefits, and compensation for permanent impairment.
Take Action and Protect Your Rights
If you’ve been hurt on the job in Nebraska or Iowa and have questions about your claim, or about a message you’re not sure you can trust, don’t guess. At Johnson, Tabor, & Johnson Law, LLC, we represent injured workers in workers’ compensation claims throughout Nebraska and Iowa. Call us at (402) 506-4444 or contact us today for a free consultation. You shouldn’t have to pay anyone just to get your day in court, and a real court will never ask you to.
This article is based on the Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court’s news release dated October 20, 2026, titled “Workers’ Compensation Email Fraud Alert.” It is provided for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you have questions about your workers’ compensation claim, contact a licensed attorney about your specific situation.
