April 1, 2010

Some receive email scam claiming to be from agency director

OLYMPIA — At least one person in Alabama has received an email claiming to be from Department of Licensing Director Liz Luce asking for money and personal information in order to claim a prize.

The agency is warning Washington residents to be on the lookout.

“DOL will never contact you by email or phone and ask for personal information,” Luce said. “This is certainly one of those cases where if it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is.”

The agency received word of the email Monday, and has alerted the Washington State Patrol and its own internal investigation division. The message contained a rambling letter and three official state forms as attachments. At this point, the extent of the email scam is unknown.

Another scam was discovered in Pasco this week involving actual bank checks being sent out using a Pasco business account with a stamped signature of another state official.

“As those who carry these crimes out are getting more sophisticated, so is the Department of Licensing, but citizens must be watchful as well,” Luce said.

The agency has plans to roll out a new driver license design this summer aimed at preventing fraud and is studying other ways to safeguard personal information and prevent identity theft.