The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued an alert regarding a new fake email sent to registered Carriers pretending to be the FMCSA.
The phishing email requests that motor truck carriers complete the forms attached to the email. The forms ask for an individual’s Social Security number and USDOT PIN. In some cases, the phishing email will also request a certificate of insurance and driver’s license to help protect against fraud. This request is to trick you into thinking the email is legitimate. The email may also contain a threat that you will be fined if you don’t complete the form. This is not an FMCSA practice as part of its registration process.
DO NOT complete and send these forms. The FMCSA will never request this information on any of its official forms. The only official forms can be found here. Furthermore, FMCSA communications regarding information requests of this type would either request that you log into your portal account at FMCSA Login (dot.gov) or the email would come directly from an FMCSA dedicated mailbox.
The fake email comes from several addresses: safety@fmcsa.gov, filing@fmcsa.gov, dotfilings@fmcsa.gov, or audit@fmcsa.gov. None of these are legitimate email addresses and are NOT used or owned by FMCSA. Additionally, if you reply to the email, your message gets routed to @fmcsa-safety-fmcsa.com, which is also not a domain owned or used by FMCSA.
This phishing attempt aims to obtain Personal Identifiable Information (PII) and enable the unauthorized party to access the recipient’s FMCSA account.
Screenshots of the fake email can be found on FMCSA’s website.
The FMCSA recommends the following:
- Do not click any suspicious links. Instead hover over them to see the real email address of the URL of that link. Click only on links you deem trustworthy.
- Visit the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency for guidance on online deceiving tactics.
- The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends following specific procedures for email verification.
- File a complaint with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) by using their IC3 site.
- Contact the FMCSA Contact Center or call (1-800-832-5660) if you are the target of these practices
Phishing Attacks Are on the Rise
The FMCSA issued a similar phishing alert to motor carriers early this year. Phishing involves sending fraudulent communications that look like they come from a legitimate and reputable source, usually through email and text, to acquire sensitive data and login information to steal money and install malware on a system for ransom. These types of scams are on the rise. According to a recent report by SlashNext, there has been a 341% increase in malicious emails, with artificial intelligence (AI) contributing to the rise.
Be sure to read through the FMCSA’s alert and follow its recommendations. Always think twice before clicking on an email.
About Western Truck Insurance Services
Western Truck Insurance Services is an insurance brokerage specializing in commercial truck insurance. We know this stuff and want to make sure you do, too. Our clients appreciate our dedication to finding competitive rates and offering unparalleled service beyond excellent insurance options. They also value how our state-of-the-art automation provides lightning-fast Truck insurance quotes, customer service, insurance certificates, and coverage changes. Contact us today at (800) 937-8785 to learn more.