COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose is warning businesses across The Buckeye State about an e-mail scam that started on Monday.
LaRose is warning recipients not to click a link in the in the e-mail that alleges to be from his office. The e-mail is not from LaRose or his office.
The e-mail reportedly tells recipients that they must click a link to "validate" their profile in order to not experience a delay in service. The link leads to another page asking for detailed information to be submitted, including the individual's social security number.
The phishing attempt was brought to the Secretary of State's attention on Monday afternoon.
"It's so important for Ohioans to be good caretakers of their personal information," said LaRose. "Scammers are always working to find new ways to make a buck. Don't give them the upper hand -- verify the source of e-mails before sharing your personal data."
If you received the e-mail, you should delete it from your inbox immediately. If you happened to click on the link, it is recommended that you quickly notify your company's Information Technology office to prevent any further issues.
Editor's Note: The below story aired in December of 2019