An employee publication of the Criminal Texas Department of Criminal Justice September 2017 Justice Agency News

Phone attempt prompts nationwide warning

n July 10, Texas Department of Crim- More sophisticated vishing () Oinal Justice Inspector General Bruce efforts, such as this one, use a fake caller ID Toney learned that officials in our agency to give the appearance that calls come from were receiving multiple phone calls from pri- a trusted organization. An OIG investigation vate citizens seeking to confirm that an auto- quickly determined that the phone number mated phone call they had received actually provided by the caller was internet-based came from TDCJ’s Office of the Inspector but designed to appear as if it came from General, as claimed in the prerecorded mes- the Austin area code, a tactic used by illicit sage. The message also said the recipient’s call center operations which allows them to Social Security number had been flagged pose as a trusted organization or government for criminal fraud and urged them to call a body. The fake Austin phone number, seem- phone number with an Austin area code. ingly based in the state capital, was used by this criminal enterprise in an attempt to lend With 24 hours, TDCJ and OIG began to re- more credibility to their scheme. ceive similar confirmation-seeking calls from all over the United States. It was also discov- Realizing the wide-ranging implications of ered that whoever was making the calls knew this scheme, Inspector General Toney im- the recipient’s name, home address and So- mediately initiated a security response to receive a call which asks for your personal cial Security number, and those who called mitigate public risk. The Federal Communi- identifying information or that directs you the provided number were asked to leave a cations Commission and the Federal Trade to provide funds using gift cards, Western recorded message which included personal, Commission were informed of the fraudu- Union, PayPal or any other source, view that confidential information. Fortunately, the lent calls and the associated phone number, call with suspicion and independently verify majority of those called did not provide in- and the FTC initiated investigations through the source of the request to make sure of the formation or funds, but instead chose to val- their federal agency task force. caller’s true identity. idate the call by contacting TDCJ. Agency employees were notified through in- TDCJ’s Office of the Inspector General is Phishing is a malicious attempt to obtain ternal communication channels and TDCJ’s dedicated to detecting, investigating and money or sensitive information using an Public Information office issued alerts prosecuting reports of waste, fraud and electronic communication which seems through news and social media outlets. An abuse of state resources within the agency. to come from a trustworthy source. While alert bulletin was immediately posted on Fraud, and unfair business phishing attacks are commonly made using the agency’s website to warn the public and practice complaints can be filed online with a fake website or pop-up screen, some ar- TDCJ staff members of the scam. the Federal Trade Commission.▲ rive as a text message or a phone call asking Always keep in mind that your personal in- potential victims to call a number or go to formation could become available to mali- a website where they are prompted to send cious individuals and organizations. If you money or divulge confidential information.

1 CRIMINAL JUSTICE CONNECTIONS