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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 2, 2009

CONTACT
Leah Bucco-White, Communications and Legislative Services, 402-471-9356, Leah.bucco-white@nebraska.gov

Be on the Lookout for H1N1 E-Mail Vaccination Scam


Note: A sound bite on this topic is available at: http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/audio/.

Lincoln – Keep an eye on your inbox. If you receive an e-mail that appears to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) asking you to create a personal H1N1 vaccination profile, it’s a scam.

The CDC received reports of fraudulent e-mails talking about a CDC-sponsored state vaccination program. The federal agency has not implemented a state vaccination program requiring registration on its Web site.

The e-mails tell users that they need to create a personal H1N1 vaccination profile on the CDC’s Web site whether they’re vaccinated or not. The e-mails say the profile is used as part of a registration system and provide people with a link.

The link takes people to a fake Web page that looks similar to the CDC’s. On the page are instructions people can download to supposedly create their profile. If people click on the link to download, they’re in danger of getting a virus and giving someone access to personal information.

“We’ve seen situations where scammers are using genuine concern about H1N1 for their own gain,” said Dr. Joann Schaefer, Chief Medical Officer for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. “This is a reminder to use common sense if you’re asked to provide personal information over the Internet.”

Here are some tips to avoid becoming a victim of what’s called a phishing attack:

  • Do not follow unsolicited links and do not open or respond to unsolicited e-mail messages.
  • Use caution when visiting untrusted Web sites.
  • Be suspicious of unsolicited e-mails asking for personal information and use caution when providing personal information online.

For the latest H1N1 information, go to www.dhhs.ne.gov or www.flu.gov. H1N1 questions? Call the DHHS Flu Information Hotline at 1-888-541-5668 or 402-471-2579. Specialists are available to assist you Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central Time.

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