WETHERSFIELD — Police are alerting the public to a new phishing scam targeting air travelers by mimicking the TSA PreCheck enrollment process and stealing personal and financial information.
According to the Wethersfield Police Department, the scam involves an email that falsely appears to be from the TSA PreCheck program, enticing recipients to enroll or renew their membership.
The email contains a link to a fraudulent website that looks like the official TSA PreCheck site, where victims are prompted to pay a fee to bypass long airport security lines.
However, the website is a sham, and any information or money submitted through it is immediately accessible to the scammers.
The fake services purchased will not be recognized at any airport, leaving victims without the promised benefits and at risk of identity theft and financial loss.
Authorities advise travelers to be vigilant and protect themselves from falling prey to this and similar phishing schemes by taking the following precautions:
– Always exercise caution before clicking on links in unexpected emails, regardless of the organization they claim to represent.
– Be suspicious of any urgent requests for payment, as this is a common tactic used by cybercriminals to prompt hasty decisions.
– Remember that legitimate enrollment in TSA PreCheck requires payment in person, not online, and authentic TSA communications will not include direct payment links.
When in doubt, contact the TSA directly to verify the legitimacy of any solicitations.
The Wethersfield Police Department is working to raise awareness of this scam and to prevent further incidents.
They urge anyone who believes they may have been a victim of this fraudulent scheme to report it to law enforcement immediately.
