Phishing scam to steal personal data

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection has warned of an ongoing “scam” 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 credential issued by the State of Connecticut who use the state’s eLicense system to manage their credentials,” the agency said.

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“The Department of Consumer Protection issues more than 200,000 credentials annually, most of which are administered through the eLicense system,” DCP Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli said in a statement. “Phishing attempts and scams are common, so it’s important to stay vigilant and recognize the signs of a scam.”

The agency said there were indications that the same email was not genuine:

• The real email address behind the “From” name is not 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 website (there must be “ct.gov” immediately 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 said.

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