by
Barbara Kram, Editor | December 07, 2009
Beware of fake emails
that claim to be
from CDC
Just when you thought internet scammers had reached a nadir, along comes a new low.
CDC has received reports of fraudulent emails telling people to register for a state-level vaccination program, according to NewsEmergency.com, a website that tracks real emergencies, as well as issuing alerts about fake ones.
This type of internet fraud, called "phishing," uses deceptive tactics to collect personal and identification information. In this particular case, the scammers misrepresent that their email is from the Centers for Disease Control and that recipients are required to visit the CDC website to register for a state vaccination program. If you click on the link provided, you might have malicious code installed on your computer, officials caution.
The CDC has NOT implemented a state vaccination program requiring registration on www.cdc.gov.
CDC reminds users to take the following steps to reduce the risk of being a victim of a phishing attack:
-Do not follow unsolicited links and do not open or respond to unsolicited email messages.
-Use caution when visiting non-trusted websites.
-Use caution when entering personal information online.
Get more details including a look at this scam so you can recognize it, at: www.emergencyemail.org/newsemergency/anmviewer.asp?a=436&z=29
