Don’t Fall Victim: Tips To Prevent Email Fraud

Don’t Fall Victim: Tips To Prevent Email Fraud

The Department of Administration, Environmental Improvement Fund (EIF) has been made aware of municipalities receiving fraudulent emails regarding the now-collected May 1 debt service payments. Regarding communications from the EIF, the following statements are true:

1. The EIF will never email notification that a payment has been rejected and request additional funds be transmitted.   
2. The EIF will never request payment information over the phone.
3. All emails addresses end with: @wisconsin.gov
4. The EIF is based in Madison, where the area code is 608.

If you doubt the legitimacy of a communication, please refer to the bottom of the invoice for contact information. 

Here are some essential email fraud prevention measures:

1. Verify The Sender: Always double-check the sender's email address, especially if the message seems suspicious or unexpected. Cybercriminals often use email addresses that mimic legitimate ones to trick recipients into divulging sensitive information or clicking malicious links.
2. Think Before You Click: Avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown or untrusted sources. These could contain malware or lead to phishing websites designed to steal your personal information.
3. Stay Informed: Keep yourself updated about the latest email fraud techniques and trends. Awareness is key to recognizing and avoiding fraudulent emails.
4. Use Security Software: Install reputable antivirus and antimalware software on your devices and keep them up to date. These tools can help detect and prevent email fraud attempts.
5. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Implement 2FA wherever possible to add an extra layer of security to your accounts. This makes it significantly harder for hackers to gain unauthorized access.
6. Educate Employees: Ensure that your employees are trained to recognize email fraud attempts and know what steps to take if they encounter suspicious emails.

In an era of heightened cybersecurity threats, safeguarding municipalities against email fraud requires a multi-faceted approach. By implementing the strategies outlined above, municipal governments can mitigate the risk of email fraud.