The Center for Disease Control recently provided a news release that states that fraudulent emails are being received across the country referencing a CDC State Sponsored Vaccination Program.

Apparently the email is requesting that users create a personal H1N1 Vaccination Profile on the CDC’s website. The email promotes a sense of urgency because it states that anyone over the age of 18 is required to have their Vaccination Profile registered with the CDC.  When the user clicks on the link, a virus is immediately uploaded to their computer that compromises all the personal data on the computer and makes it easily accessible to would-be hackers.

The following is a sample image of the fraudulent email:

Because of these potential phishing attacks and e-mail scams, SmartSecurityPeople.com encourages consumers who are interested in H1N1 influenza virus information to visit the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services informational Web site at  www.flu.gov . We are also pleased to offer the following tips to help our readers avoid phishing scams:

• Contact the institution yourself: Don’t respond to unsolicited requests for your personal information. Instead, contact the organization at a phone number or a Web address you know to be correct.
• Don’t click on links in e-mails: Be cautious about opening any attachments or downloading any files from e-mail messages. Links and attachments can make your computer vulnerable to viruses.
• Look for warning signs: Misspelled words or a lack of personal greetings may signal fraud. However, the presence of a personal greeting or a lack of errors does not guarantee legitimacy.  Always be skeptical.
• Use spam filters, anti-virus software, anti-spyware software and a firewall: Update your security software regularly. The software can help stop your computer from accepting unwanted files that can be sent via phishing e-mails.
• Don’t give out personal information via e-mail: E-mail is not a secure method of transmitting personal information. A bank or governmental agency will never request personal information via e-mail.
• Monitor your accounts: Review credit card and bank account statements as soon as you receive them. If you find unauthorized charges, immediately notify your bank or credit card provider.
• Report Phishing Scams to the company or organization that the scam artist is impersonating.

We hope you find this information useful.