Impersonation scams, some of which also use the names and other identifying information of actual agency employees, have long been an issue for the IRS and SSA in particular. Image: CBP / Josh Denmark
By: FEDweek StaffThe GSA’s inspector general’s office and the CBP have issued new warnings about federal agencies and individual employees being impersonated in scams.
In the former case, “bad actors have used fake websites to steal user login credentials – such as username and password – for federal websites to commit fraud.” The sites mirror legitimate sites, often using domain names similar to official URLs or that may contain the official URL but with additional characters, it said.
Those sites further “use search engine ads to prioritize the fake websites, so when an individual searches for the legitimate website, the ad is the first clickable link,” it said, and scammers “have demonstrated the technical capability to capture the multi-factor authorization codes sent to phones and emails in real-time or circumvent MFA in certain instances.”
It recommended bookmarking trusted websites instead of relying on search results; checking that a website address has a “.gov” extension, and if the government website has a PIV login capability, utilize that method as often as possible as opposed to a username and password
The CBP meanwhile issued a warning about scammers impersonating its agents and officers in phone calls seeking personal information such as addresses and bank account numbers. “In many cases, would-be victims are reporting that the scammers are insistent that they must confirm certain details because CBP has intercepted a shipment of drugs with the “target’s” name and address and that cooperation is important to ensure the case is resolved,” it said.
“If the target refuses to comply, the scammer threatens that the police will be arriving. When the scammer is asked for a name, he provides an actual CBP employee’s name and phone number available on the internet for the target to verify. Some scammers are even providing fake case numbers and badge numbers,” it says.
Impersonation scams, some of which also use the names and other identifying information of actual agency employees, have long been an issue for the IRS and SSA in particular.
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