RI Department of Labor and Training Warns About Phishing Scams

RI Department of Labor and Training Warns About Phishing Scams

The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (DLT) is warning Rhode Islanders that the agency has learned of potential phishing attempts targeting individuals.

In this email scam, an external sender asks the recipient whether they are receiving unemployment benefits in Canada, then directs them to a suspicious link. This email is not associated with DLT, and if you receive it, you are advised to report it as phishing and delete it immediately.         

This email originates from an external sender. DLT is not aware of how many Rhode Islanders may have received the email or visited the website.

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Other states have reported similar phishing scams, and the U.S. Department of Justice recently issued a warning against fake unemployment benefit websites.  

RI DLT has been pounded by fake unemployment claims filings.      

The FBI defines Phishing as:

Phishing schemes often use spoofing techniques to lure you in and get you to take the bait. These scams are designed to trick you into giving information to criminals that they shouldn’t have access to.

In a phishing scam, you might receive an email that appears to be from a legitimate business and is asking you to update or verify your personal information by replying to the email or visiting a website. The web address might look similar to one you’ve used before. The email may be convincing enough to get you to take the action requested.

But once you click on that link, you’re sent to a spoofed website that might look nearly identical to the real thing—like your bank or credit card site—and asked to enter sensitive information like passwords, credit card numbers, banking PINs, etc. These fake websites are used solely to steal your information.

RI DLT warns that all Rhode Islanders to exercise caution when providing personal information online. Take the following measures to protect yourself:              

•    Never share sensitive information, such as your SSN or banking information, via email or social media. 

If you receive an email that seems to originate from DLT, ensure it is from a dlt.ri.gov email address before responding or clicking any links.

Only fill out forms related to unemployment insurance on secure government (.gov) websites.

When in doubt, check the DLT website for up-to-date, accurate information, or contact the UI Call Center at (401) 415-6772.

    •    If you visited a fraudulent website and believe that your personal information may be at risk, visit identitytheft.gov.         

More information on identifying and protecting yourself against phishing attacks is available on the FTC website and the FBI website.