DHSS warns of text message scam
The Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services (DHSS) is warning Missourians of a new text message scam that targets residents and their personal information and uses the appearance of state agency logos to try to legitimize the site.
The text message, which asks the user to visit a website to enter their Social Security number, name and date of birth, and upload photos of their driver's license to "validate" their "one-time COVID-19 vaccine verification," uses logos of DHSS and the Missouri Department of Revenue's myDMV portal to legitimize the scam website.
DHSS officials note it's staff will never ask for a Social Security number over email or text message and only provides vaccination verification and records upon request.
If a resident submitted his or her information through the scam website, DHSS recommends the person contact: his or her financial institutions to notify them of the privacy breach; the Social Security Administration to report an exposed Social Security number; and credit reporting services to alert them information was disclosed.