DHS warns of potential cyber scams tied to El Paso, Dayton shootings

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Tuesday warned internet users to watch out for potential “malicious cyber activity” that seeks to take advantage of the shootings over the weekend in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio.

Specifically, DHS’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recommended that users should “exercise caution” in opening emails or email attachments that refer to either of the shooting incidents, which together led to the deaths of more than 30 people and to dozens of injuries.

{mosads}CISA noted that these emails and attachments could direct users to malware-infected websites.

“Emails requesting donations from duplicitous charitable organizations are also common after tragic events,” CISA wrote in the alert. “Be wary of fraudulent social media pleas, calls, texts, donation websites, and door-to-door solicitations relating to these events.”

CISA recommended that users not click links or open email attachments in unsolicited emails, and that users practice caution when donating to charities that link themselves to the El Paso and Dayton shootings.

The CISA alert was issued the same day the FBI’s El Paso office also warned Americans to watch out for scams in relation to the recent El Paso shooting.

In this case, the FBI warned of phone calls purporting to raise money for a funeral home or pay for medical examiner expenses of victims. The FBI noted that if someone received that call to not give them money, and report them to authorities.