Cyber criminals and con artists are taking advantage of Hurricane Florence victims and volunteers. We urge you to be very cautious and vigilant with corporate and personal information. Do not click on any licks within emails and/or reply to any emails referencing "Hurricane Florence" with the header
** CAUTION: External Email **
.
Please report these e-mails using the “Report Phishing” button or forward as an attachment to [email protected].
No Topic is Off Limits for Cyber criminals.
Cyber criminals do not operate under the same moral guidelines as you do. They will use any way possible to elicit a response, playing on your feelings and emotions. During and after a natural disaster such as Hurricane Florence, people typically search for more information and seek out opportunities to help. Unfortunately, criminals use this to their advantage.
Examples
Below are some examples of how attackers can take advantage of victims and volunteers:
- Phishing: Emails requesting urgent information or guiding you to fake sites requiring you to login and enter personal information.
- Vishing (Voice phishing) –The use of fraudulent phone calls to trick people into giving money or revealing personal information. For example: A fake call from your cell phone carrier requesting a credit card to extend your data throughout the storm.
- Smishing (SMS texting): Text messages have also been used in phishing scams. In this case, attackers send text messages encouraging targets to send money to an account or click a link to make a donation.
- Fraudulent donation sites: Attackers exploit good Samaritans who are looking to help.
Quick Tips
Keep these tips in mind to help you avoid falling victim:
1. Official communication from NHRMC. Communication from NHRMC will be sent from the following email addresses: [email protected] and NHRMC Alerts [email protected]
2. Examine hyperlinks in your emails. Hover over a link on a desktop or hold it for several seconds on a mobile device to preview the true destination of a link.
3. Be wary of phone calls asking for personal information. If you didn’t call them, hang up and call the company’s legitimate phone number to verify.
4. Keep your password private. No reputable company will ask for your password over email. Make sure you are on a company’s legitimate website before you type in your username and password.
5. Be wary of fake charity sites. Before making a donation, make sure that the site is legitimate, and uses encryption (https).
6. Think twice. Attackers will use emotional appeals in their emails. Stay calm and look closely at the email content before responding.
If anything seems suspicious, don't take the bait. It's best to be certain before taking action.
If you suspect that you have received a phishing email at your NHRMC email address, please report it by using the “Report Phishing” button or forward as an attachment to [email protected]