Warning: H1N1 Email Scam 

Norfolk, Virginia - December 3, 2009 — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has received reports of fraudulent emails (phishing) referencing a CDC sponsored state vaccination program, requiring users to create a personal H1N1 vaccination profile.

The email is a hoax, and the CDC has NOT implemented a state vaccination program requiring registration on www.cdc.gov.

Sentara learned of the hoax first hand when staff members reported receiving the emails through their work email accounts.

Replying to the email could result in sharing personal information that may put participants at risk of identity theft or downloading a harmful virus to their computer.

For more information from the CDC about the hoax, please read the press release on the CDC Web site.

The CDC reminds users to take the following steps to reduce the risk of being a victim of a phishing attack: 

Do not follow unsolicited links and do not open or respond to unsolicited email messages. 

Use caution when visiting un-trusted websites. 

Use caution when entering personal information online.