Beware of SCAMS - "Phishing" Emails

The AoA (Administration on Aging) wants you to be Aware of Email Scams.

The federal Agency for Community Living (ACL) has received/heard complaints about emails claiming they are from AoA and “Edwin Walker” requesting personal and financial information. These emails are a PHISHING scam. 

  • The ACL will NOT ask for your social security number.
  • The ACL will NOT ask you to send a check to access a benefit.
  • Contact ACL at (202) 401-4634 to see if a message is valid.

 What is Phishing?

Phishing seeks to obtain usernames, passwords, bank and other financial accounts, and credit card details (and… money), for malicious reasons.  Phishers pretend to be trustworthy via electronic email and text messages; older and vulnerable adults can be subject to fraud and financial abuse.

How Do I Spot a Phishing Email?

Phishers include links in their email to lure you to fake sites… to steal your login credentials or to infect your computer with a virus. Phishers may also ask you to respond to an email with sensitive, personally identifiable information (PII) that would allow them access to bank or other financial accounts.  à Before you click a link or respond to an email,check:

Are you familiar with the sender's company or email address?  Are you expecting something from the sender’s company or organization?

Do they seem to know you by name?  That doesn’t mean the email is legitimate: your name may be in your email address, but it’s good to check.

Be suspicious of links in an email… hover over links to verify the source URL address code.  Before you click, verify that you recognize the linked URL.

Do you know the sender?  The sender should include a signature that provides contact information. 

What to do if you think you have received a phishing email….

Your choices: delete the mail, or forward it to an organization that can either study the email for to see who sent it, or investigate the people who sent it.  Examples include an IT security group that supports you, or a law enforcement organization that deals with cybersecurity.

You may file complaints with:

Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internet Crime Compliant Center:

https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx

 

The Federal Trade Commission: (877) 382-4357

U.S. Postal Service: http://ehome.uspis.gov/fcsexternal/default.aspx