FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : Thursday, December 31, 2015
CONTACT: Sara Rabern (605)773-3215
Attorney General Jackley Warns Consumers of Email Hacking Scam
PIERRE, S.D.- Attorney General Marty Jackley is warning consumers of an email hacking scam that targets personal email accounts in an attempt to obtain personal identifying information or money.
The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division has received complaints from individuals in South Dakota who confirm their personal email accounts have been hijacked by scammers. In one incident, the hacker sent communications via the victim’s personal email account to the victim’s bank in an attempt to transfer money. The email was sent to a specific individual at the victim’s bank requesting a money wire and confirmation.
“Anyone with an email account is vulnerable to identity theft. Scam artists will continue to target personal email accounts, so consumers need to be proactive in protecting and monitoring their email and personal information,” said Jackley.
Here are some tips to combat email hacking:
• Change your password frequently and be diligent in making strong, unique password to include a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and/or special characters
• Change security questions and answers periodically
• Always log out when you’ve completed your task
• Reclaim your account- contact the security division of your email provider
• Enable authentication features on your email account
• Every email service provider has different security measures. Make sure these security settings are enabled allowing notification if your account is being accessed from a different IP address.
• No legitimate company’s employee will ask you for your password
• Scan your computer for malware
• Let your contacts know that you have been hacked and encourage them to delete emails from the compromised account
If you have any questions regarding this scam, please contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at 800-300-1986 or consumerhelp@state.sd.us.
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