Rick Patrick: Greene Publishing, Inc.
According to Billy Washington, Madison County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller, a fraudulent e-mail has been showing up in people's e-mail boxes, including some Madison County citizens. “I had someone contact me after having received an email that purports to be from either the clerk’s office or the E-file Authority requesting that they appear in court,” said Washington. The e-mail may appear similar to this:
You are to appear as a defendant in Court of Appeals, you have to appear in the Court on the 13th of April, hereby you are notified that you have been scheduled to appear for your hearing that will take place in the Court of Florida on 06/13/2017 02:37:04 PM ET.
This case against you is for "US Health Care Service Code Violation".
Please bring all documents and witnesses relating to this case with you to Court on your hearing date.
Copy of the court notice is ATTACHED to this mail. Please, read it "thoroughly".
Note: If you do not attend the hearing the judge may hear the case in your absence.
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Filing Information
Filing #: 30003527
Filing Time: 06/08/2017 2:11:04 PM ET
Filer: James G. Whitehouse
Case #: 8334704DR001393A000XX
Court Case #: DR1114-1383
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Anyone receiving an e-mail claiming to be from the State's E-Portal system or Courts requesting the viewer to open an attachment to view a court summons should delete the e-mail immediately and not open the attachment. The fraudulent e-mail could likely be an attempt to steal personal information. Opening the attachment could infect your computer with a virus and/or put your personal information at jeopardy. “An official notice to appear in court or a jury summons will be received through the United States Postal Service from the Clerk of Courts Office, not an e-mail,” said Washington.
Citizens are reminded to keep all anti-virus software up-to-date on personal computers and carefully monitor bank statements if they suspect their personal information could have been compromised.