Re: Fwd: US Department of Justice Victim Notification System

[Roger A Safian <r-safian () NORTHWESTERN EDU>]

I think we have been getting these for a while...maybe a year or more.  (actually, I just looked, our first was May 
7th, 2009, almost three years)  We take no action.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: The EDUCAUSE Security Constituent Group Listserv
> [mailto:SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU] On Behalf Of Brent Sweeny
> Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2012 3:05 PM
> To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU
> Subject: [SECURITY] Fwd: US Department of Justice Victim Notification System
>
> is anyone else getting these sorts of USDOJ notices? they look and feel like a
> phish (the generic opening is very suspicious, the 'victim id #'
> and PIN are the same in all instances of the note, the whole premise smells
> fishy, the references to later communication that so far haven't happened,
> etc), but the URLs and phone numbers are legit, and there's no fake reply-to
> or underlying URLs, so I can't find anything explicitly
> wrong with it. even the mail headers look correct.   the note refers to
> attached information, and while there's no attachment, I just assumed the
> information is included, not literally 'attached.'
>       thanks.  Brent Sweeny, Indiana University
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: US Department of Justice Victim Notification System
> Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:38:49 -0500 (EST)
> From: Denielle Johnson <fedemail () vns usdoj gov>
> To: Business Representative <sweeny () indiana edu>
>
>
> DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL.
>
>
>                                               U.S. Department of Justice
>                                               Federal Bureau of
> Investigation
>                                               FBI - New York
>                                               26 Federal Plaza, 23rd Floor
>                                               New York, NY 10278
>                                               Phone:  (877) 236-8947
>                                               Fax:
>
>
> January 17, 2012
>
> Business Representative
>
> RE:  288A-NY-303468
>
>
> Dear Business Representative:
>
> You previously received a notification that you were identified as a potential
> victim of a federal crime.  Attached is additional information related to the
> case.  You will be receiving a hard-copy version of this notification and a
> personalized "Notice of Infected Computers"
> attachment containing a unique passphrase to access the IP addresses
> affected within your network.
>
> Please note that it may take four to eight hours for you to gain access to the
> Victim Notification System while our system is updated with additional
> information.
>
> Due to the high volume of calls, we are unable to return messages or speak
> to individuals directly.  Please do not contact the New York Field Office at
> this time.  You will be able to obtain case status updates by calling 877-236-
> 8947.
>
> Current information regarding the status of your case can be found on the
> Internet at www.Notify.USDOJ.GOV or by calling the Victim Notification
> System (VNS) Call Center at 1-866-DOJ-4YOU (1-866-365-4968). You will need
> to enter your Victim Identification Number (VIN) 3524190 and your Personal
> Identification Number (PIN) 8098 anytime you contact the Call Center and
> the first time you log into VNS on the Internet.
>
> You can also use the Call Center and the Internet to correct/update your
> contact information and/or change your decision regarding participation in
> the notification system. Please remember however, that the first time you
> access the VNS Internet site, you will be prompted to enter your last name
> (or business name) and need to enter it as currently contained in VNS and
> spelled within this letter. Your participation in this notification system is
> totally voluntary. You can choose not to participate or reactivate your access
> at any time.
>
> If you have any concern regarding the validity of this letter or would like to
> speak with me regarding any questions you may have, please feel free to call
> me at the number listed above. When you call, so that I can assist you as
> promptly as possible, please provide me the file number listed at the top of
> the letter.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> New York Victim Assistance Program
> null
>
>
> If you do not want to receive email notifications from the Victim Notification
> System (VNS) or wish to no longer participate in the Department of Justice
> victim notification program, please log into the VNS Web site at
> https://www.notify.usdoj.gov.  To stop receiving email notifications or
> change your email address select My Information and either remove your
> email address or provide a new address and click the "update" button.  If
> you no longer wish to receive notifications in your case or access the VNS
> Web site and toll free telephone service, select Stop Receiving Notifications
> and follow the instructions on the screen.
>
> If you believe you have received this email in error, please contact the office
> listed at top of the email message.
>
> Please note, if this is the first notification you have received from VNS you
> will need to wait 4-8 hours from receipt of this email before you can login to
> the VNS Internet site (http://www.notify.usdoj.gov). In addition, it will also
> be 4-8 hours before any documents which may have been uploaded to VNS
> as part of this notification will available under the "Documents/Links"
> section on the Web page.
>
> Attachments have been referenced with this notification and are available
> on the VNS Internet site (or will be available within 8 hours).  After you log
> into the Web site select "Downloads/Links" to view the attachments.