DOI Warns Present Assault is Concentrating on Insurance coverage Producers
The Massachusetts Division of Insurance coverage (DOI) issued an pressing discover on April 1, 2025, warning licensees about ongoing phishing assaults. These refined scams impersonate the DOI and threaten license revocation to trick insurance coverage producers into revealing delicate info.
Including to the unease about rising assaults focusing on insurance coverage producers, on Monday April seventh, the MAIA despatched out an electronic mail warning that an electronic mail had been despatched out showing to seem like it got here from the MAIA and its present President Chris Fitts. The Affiliation requested that anybody who receives it, delete it with out opening it, along with reporting it as junk/spam.
How These Assaults Work
As for the DOI, malicious actors are sending fraudulent emails that:
- Show DOI letterhead or the Massachusetts State Seal
- Embrace correct license info to seem reputable
- Direct recipients to click on suspicious hyperlinks that declare to “confirm” license info
- Threaten quick license revocation if recipients don’t comply
- Could comprise convincing however barely altered electronic mail addresses and web site URLs
Figuring out Authentic DOI Communications
The Massachusetts DOI gives these verification tips:
- Official Letterhead: Legitimate emails show the letterhead proven on the prime of the official discover
- Appropriate Sender: Authentic emails come “From the NAIC on behalf of the Massachusetts Division of Insurance coverage sbs@naic.org“
- Correct Hyperlinks: Legitimate DOI hyperlinks direct to:
The MAIA additionally emphasizes to test the e-mail handle involving the MAIA, to make sure that they arrive from an official Affiliation electronic mail handle.
The Risks of Phishing and Social Engineering
These assaults pose vital threats past inconvenience:
- Id Theft: Stolen credentials can result in fraudulent accounts and monetary loss
- Enterprise Compromise: Attackers might acquire entry to consumer info, creating legal responsibility points
- Ransomware Set up: Clicking malicious hyperlinks can set up software program that encrypts your programs till cost
- Regulatory Penalties: Information breaches involving consumer info might set off reporting necessities and penalties
- Reputational Injury: Compromised programs can injury consumer belief {and professional} relationships
Efficient Prevention Methods
Shield your self and your online business with these practices:
- Confirm Earlier than Appearing: Contact the DOI instantly at 617-521-7794 (choice 3) everytime you obtain suspicious communications. Equally, the MAIA welcomes calls from members trying to confirm the legitimacy of an electronic mail.
- Test Electronic mail Headers: Look at the complete sender electronic mail handle, not simply the show title
- Hover Earlier than Clicking: Place your cursor over hyperlinks to preview the precise vacation spot URL earlier than clicking
- Use Bookmarks: Entry official web sites by way of your individual bookmarks relatively than electronic mail hyperlinks
- Allow Multi-Issue Authentication: Add an additional safety layer to your accounts the place obtainable
- Preserve Programs Up to date: Preserve present safety patches on all gadgets
- Practice Workers: Guarantee everybody in your group understands phishing warning indicators
When you suspect you’ve obtained a phishing electronic mail claiming to be from the Massachusetts DOI, report it instantly to the Producer Licensing Unit at 617-521-7794 choice 3.
