I received the email below from sampsoncountync@public.govdelivery.com and want to know if it is a scam. The email claims to be from Stretto for Voyager Digital's Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
The Email Message
Emails from sampsoncountync@public.govdelivery.com are sent via a legitimate communication platform used by Sampson County Government. However, while the sender address itself belongs to a real service, it can still be involved in scams in two specific ways:
1. Verify Email Source
- Legitimate Use: Sampson County uses GovDelivery (by Granicus) to send newsletters, job opportunities, and official alerts. Emails from this address are often real if you have subscribed to county updates.
- Recent Breaches/Exploits: There have been reports of attackers "bombarding" emails or exploiting government alert systems to send phishing links that appear to come from legitimate
.govdelivery.com addresses.
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2. Red Flags
Even if the email address looks correct, it is likely a scam if it contains the following:
- Requests for Payment: The Sampson County Sheriff’s Office has explicitly warned that they never call or email to collect funds for warrants, missed jury duty, or criminal offenses.
- Urgent Threats: Messages using fear (e.g., "immediate arrest," "account suspended") to force you to click a link are common phishing tactics.
- Suspicious Links: Hover over any links; if they lead to a non-government website (anything other than
sampsoncountync.gov), do not click.
What to Do
- Do Not Click: Avoid clicking links or downloading attachments from suspicious emails.
- Verify Directly: If you are unsure, visit the official Sampson County Government website directly or call the relevant department using a number found on their site.
- Report Fraud: You can report scams to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or contact the Sampson County Sheriff's Office at 910-592-4141.