WA veteran-owned businesses targeted by phishing scam, agency warns
Some Washington veteran-owned businesses are receiving spam and phishing emails purporting to come from the state’s veteran affairs agency, according to a Nov. 26 department notice.
The Washington Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) stated in the notice that it had fielded several reports from businesses about the fraudulent messages. WDVA urged businesses to refrain from clicking any links or replying to these phishing or spam emails.
WDVA noted that the emails may include business-specific details, such as the establishment’s name, address and Unified Business Identifier number, as well as the agency’s logo. The emails also include a link for businesses to supposedly verify their information.
Businesses are encouraged to do the following:
- Refrain from giving out any business or personal information.
- Immediately delete the spam email.
- Those who have already shared details or clicked on the link should inform their security and IT professionals and “take appropriate cybersecurity precautions.”
“WDVA will never ask you to verify your information through unsolicited email links,” the notice said. “If we need information from you, we will contact you directly through our official channels.”
Those with questions about the legitimacy of an email can contact the department through vob@dva.wa.gov or communications@dva.wa.gov for confirmation.
.jpg)