State warns against H1N1 scam
The state Division of Public Health issued a warning Wednesday that scam artists have been sending e-mails to people seeking personal information under the guise of signing up for H1N1 flu vaccinations.
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The phishing e-mails ask people to create a “vaccination profile” and claims to be part of a “State Vaccination Program for the H1N1 (Swine Flu)” from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, officials said. The message provides a link to a fake CDC Web page that asks for personal information, they said.
Officials said there's no such thing as a "vaccination profile" and said no special registration is required to receive the H1N1 vaccine. Many physicians and county health departments have offered immunization clinics in recent weeks.
“The CDC, the state of North Carolina, nor Wake County, would ever require such personal information to be divulged to get these shots,” State Health Director Dr. Jeffrey Engel said.
The e-mails are believed to be an attempt to steal passwords or to download unwanted, malicious code on people's computers, officials said. They urged people to delete the message if they receive it.
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