Vanity: warning of email phishing expedition re: Anthem Blue Cross

Email scam phishing | Thursday FEBRUARY 19, 2015 | Swordmaker

[Swordmaker]

I received this email yesterday. I had not applied for healthcare coverage through Anthem-Blue Cross so it was very suspicious when it said I had already paid the premium. Naturally I wanted to find out what was going on, had they charged me? Was someone getting healthcare using my identity? I was too suspicious of the e-mail, paranoid type that I am, I did not call the number on the e-mail, but instead called the number I found on their website. Turns out I was right!

I was the first one to call to report this email phishing attempt. It is a very slick effort. The headers show the source are correct, with the e-mail actually coming from Anthem-Blue Cross e-mail servers, but Anthem-BlueCross did not send the e-mail, the attached phone numbers are not phone numbers associated with any of their offices, nor are the listed office hours agree with Anthem-BlueCross hours for contact at any of their offices. It is a total fraud intended to trick people into calling to find out what is going on, whether they signed up, or not.

Do not respond to this email. . . even if you DID sign-up with Anthem-BlueCross or Anthem-BlueShield. Your e-mail may be legitimate, but there's no way of distinguishing a legitimate one from one that's had the contact phone number spoofed. Get the customer service number from their website instead.

Here is a copy of the e-mail I received that is fake:

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From: IOS-noreply@anthem.com >
To: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >

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Your Health Insurance Application Payment Reference Id : 216515532
February 18, 2015 at 3:07 PM.

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Thank you for choosing Anthem Blue Cross for your health coverage needs. This email is an acknowledgement that your initial payment has been submitted.

You will soon be receiving confirmation of your enrollment and effective date as well as information about how to register for our secure member website. This web site provides access to your benefit summaries, claims history and many useful tools to help you manage your health. We look forward to the opportunity to service your health coverage needs. If you have questions or need additional information, please call 1-888-553-5423, Mon-Thur. 7:30am - 6:30pm, Fri 7:30am - 5:30pm, Sat 10am - 2pm.

You may want to print and save this email for your records.

Health care service plans provided by Anthem Blue Cross. Insurance policies provided by Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance Company. Anthem Blue Cross is the trade name of Blue Cross of California. Anthem Blue Cross and Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance Company are independent licensees of the Blue Cross Association. ® ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. ® The Blue Cross name and symbol are registered marks of the Blue Cross Association.

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information or may otherwise be protected by law. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message and any attachment thereto.

[Dick Bachert]

We got one as well. It went into the shredder!

[EBH]

http://money.cnn.com/2015/02/04/technology/anthem-insurance-hack-data-security/index.html

Insurance giant Anthem hit by massive data breach

Hackers have stolen information on tens of millions of Anthem Inc. customers, in a massive data breach that ranks among the largest in corporate history.

The information stolen from the insurance giant includes names, birthdays, medical IDs, social security numbers, street addresses, e-mail addresses and employment information, including income data.

[txhurl]

I AM an Anthem BC policyholder - very large corporate group member - I’ve not been called or emailed about the data breech yet - but I’ve gotten two phone calls in two days from ‘unknown’ telling me they’re trying to serve me papers at home or office and call this 1-843 number to find out why.

I have no reason to be served papers and I certainly didn’t call the number.

[CatherineofAragon]

We’re policyholders as well, and we haven’t had any communication about the breach, either...and so far, nothing suspicious. That could change tomorrow, who knows.

Thanks very much for the heads-up, Swordmaker.

[Swordmaker]

Anthem-BlueCross and Anthem-BlueShield has set up two years of FREE ID protection for current and previous members who have been with them since 2004 through AllClearID.com. They have a phone number to call they gave me to call if you are suspicious your ID has been compromised due to the AnthemBCBS breach. That number is: 1-877-263-7995

I got that number directly from Anthem-BlueCross and it is GOOD. I spoke to them on that phone number. The website is also good for signing up for two years of ID protection if you are or have been a BlueCross or BlueShield member in the past ten years. The lady at the phone number highly recommended using the website for signing up. . . and doing so if you were a member of their insurance companies. The likelyhood of your data being compromised was quite high.

Anthem-BlueCross and Blue Shield have sent out press releases about FAKE EMAILS warning about the breach with phone numbers to call to sign-up for id protection that are them selves phishing expeditions! They are warning to NOT call the numbers on those emails, or click on any links on those emails. SHEESH!

These fraudsters will take every opportunity to steal your ID.

[txhurl]

bttt

[txhurl]

I was forced from Cigna (fantastic) to Anthem (not fantastic) because my company switched plans, so thank you very much!