The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued a statement today warning companies that fake audit emails are being sent to trucking companies. These emails are sent by bad actors seeking to steal your identity.
The email tells you that you need to schedule a safety audit. It includes a link which looks like the FMCSA’s MCS-150. It appears legitimate. FMCSA notes that the email is “very convincing” that it is coming FMCSA. But it does not. It requests PIN numbers, EIN numbers, Social Security numbers.
The FMCSA states that Communications relating to safety audits will typically come directly from an FMCSA dedicated mailbox, or from the entity within the State that has been assigned the responsibility to conduct the safety audit. While these emails typically end in a “.gov”, FMCA encourages you to verify any email or communication you feel to be suspicious with the appropriate agency or contact your FMCSA Division Office directly to clarify.
Additionally, companies are receiving phishing emails pretending to be from respectable companies in order to get personal information such as passwords and credit card numbers. The information they seek will not only lead to identity theft, but it could also allow these thieves to access your FMCSA account.
So beware when you receive emails requesting things like social security numbers, EIN numbers, PIN numbers, credit card numbers, etc. Verify they are legitimate.