PAUSE VERIFY REPORT: Don’t Let a Labor Day Scam Ruin Your Holiday
Labor Day weekend brings sales, travel, back-to-school shopping, and end-of-summer activities, and scammers are ready to take advantage of the rush. Be alert for fake sales and social media ads, phony delivery notices, unpaid toll or RMV texts, fake bank alerts, fraudulent payment sites, and suspicious QR codes. Scammers may impersonate businesses, government agencies, financial institutions, or people you know to get you to click, pay, or share personal information.
Scams at Home Can Affect Work, Too
A scam targeting your personal phone, email, or social media can put your workplace at risk. Stolen passwords, personal information, or device access can expose your accounts and potentially your coworkers, Commonwealth systems, and sensitive information. Scammers use urgency, fear, curiosity, and trust to get us to act before we think. Pause Verify Report helps you slow down and respond safely.
Action Steps:
- PAUSE before you click or respond. Stop when a request is unexpected or urgent. Don’t click links, scan QR codes, make payments, or share passwords, verification codes, or sensitive information.
- VERIFY through a trusted source. Don’t use links or contact information in a suspicious message. Go directly to the organization’s official website or app, use a known phone number, or contact the person through a trusted channel.
- REPORT suspicious activity. Even if you recognize a scam, report it. Your report can help identify broader threats, warn others, and prevent someone else from becoming a victim.
Bookmark our CTR Compliance Corner as your one-stop shop for alerts and success factors that you can integrate into your daily operations to keep you safe on your mission.
Contact [email protected] to report actual or suspected fraud, cybersecurity incidents, or other security concerns, or to request assistance from the Statewide Risk Management and Compliance Team. Visit our CTR Cyber webpage for more cybersecurity internal controls.