Features : Department warns of H1N1 vaccine scam : Sidney Herald, Sidney, Montana

Department warns of H1N1 vaccine scam

Published on Tuesday, December 8, 2009 2:40 PM MST

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services last week reported the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have warned the state of fraudulent e-mails (phishing) referencing a CDC sponsored State Vaccination Program.

Several local and tribal health departments across the state are experiencing the e-mail scam that asks recipients of the messages to register personal information if they have been given the 2009 H1N1 vaccine.

The messages request users must create a personal H1N1 Vaccination Profile on the cdc.gov Web site. The message then states anyone that has reached the age of 18 has to have his/her personal Vaccination Profile on the cdc.gov site.

CDC has not implemented a state vaccination program requiring registration. Users that click on the e-mail are at risk of having a malicious program code installed on their system. DPHHS reminds users to take the following steps to reduce the risk of being a victim of a phishing attack:

• Do not follow unsolicited links, and do not open or respond to unsolicited e-mail messages.

• Use caution when visiting un-trusted websites.

• Use caution when entering personal information online.

Phishing is a common term used by computer users to refer to deceptive e-mails that request private or confidential information over the Internet, such as credit card numbers, passwords or other personal data.

“We really want computer users to protect themselves and their personal information,” said DPHHS director Anna Whiting Sorrell. “If anyone has questions, they should talk with their local health department. This scam should not deter anyone from getting the 2009 H1N1 vaccine.”

For more information about influenza and the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, visit dphhs.mt.gov.

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