Email Phishing Scheme Reported

The Sweetwater County Sheriff's Department has issued a warning on an email phishing scheme.

Spokesman Dick Blust says there have been widespread reports on phony "energy statements" from a company which doesn't even operate in Wyoming.The emails are represented as being from Pacific Gas&Electric, which is a California based utility company.

The bills claim the intended victim has an "overdue account". The email goes on to direct the victim to a website to see their "account statement". But once the appropriate link is clicked upon, a file is launched which plants malicious software---or malware--on the victim's computer. Criminals can than get access to sensitive financial information.

The process is commonly known as "phishing, and Blust says people can protect themselves by never clicking on unsolicited emails.under any circumstances.