GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-Wisconsin Radio Network) – Scammers are sending out more targeted email attacks against specific people, in a process known as Spear phishing.
State consumer protection director Michelle Reinen says the scammers specifically target people with the authority to make payments or have access to financial information.
One common tactic of the scam is to pose as your boss’s boss.
“The CEO or president of the company asks you to send over some piece of financial information or confirm something, and then you hand over important information for the company,” she says.
She says scammers are looking to capitalize on the idea that you might just blindly fill out an invoice or pay a phony bill without realizing it.
“Don’t let the busyness of the day help you to fall off guard with these situations, and don’t ever click on links from unsolicited emails,” says Reinen.
Scammers will send people in charge of finances phony invoice or bills that need to be paid, while impersonating someone else in the company or organization.
“We’ve seen it with small towns that end up playing an invoice, and in their small town budget, they don’t necessarily have that money,” explains Reinen.
She reminds people to always check who’s sending you a mail, and not to get complacent about responding to emails that seem out of the ordinary.
People need to really look at emails that ask for payment or financial information, even if it seems like they’re coming from inside the company.
As always, carefully scan your email before responding, and never click links in an unsolicited email.
