CT consumer alert: New phishing scam used to steal personal information

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection has issued a warning of an ongoing “imposter scam” that targeting Connecticut credential holders in an attempt to steal their personal information.

The scam appears to target all “holders of a license, permit, registration, or other type of credential issued by the state of Connecticut, who use the state’s eLicense system to manage their credentials,” according to the agency.

FBI: More than $600 million in cars and property was stolen from CT residents over three years

“The Department of Consumer Protection issues more than 200,000 credentials annually, most of which are managed using the eLicense system,” said DCP Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli, in a statement. “Phishing attempts and imposter scams are common, so it is important to remain vigilant and recognize the signs of a scam.”

The agency said there are signs that the same email is not legitimate:

• The true email address behind the “From” name is not what is actually displayed, and does not end in .gov.
• DCP would never revoke a license without a formal hearing.
• CT.GOV is not the DCP logo.
• The link does not take you to a ct.gov webpage (must have “ct.gov” just before the first “/”)

“If credential holders receive a message that looks like the example, it is most likely a scam. Do not click on any links and delete the email immediately. You can also report the phishing attempt by filing a complaint at ct.gov/DCP,” the statement noted.

Why finance scams target older adults, and how to protect yourself

Anyone who has previously followed a link and provided information, should change their password on their eLicense account, as well as on any other website where you may use the same password, according to the agency.