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State warns jobless of phishing websites
The state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations is warning consumers to be on the alert for unauthorized websites that appear to be trying to obtain personal information from unemployed persons seeking unemployment benefits. The websites contain the State of Hawaii seal and are targeting unemployed workers seeking to file for unemployment benefits via the Internet across the state. Individuals are asked to provide personal information such as their Social Security number and birth dates. The websites appear to be phishing websites, and the only legitimate website address for filing unemployment claims in Hawaii is at the following address: uiclaims.hawaii.gov.
To date, the following illegitimate websites have come to the attention of the DLIR:
The state reminds individuals to be observant and mindful of websites requesting personal information. If individuals come across websites that are suspicious, they should call 586-8844.
Hawaii updates mobile tax search tools
The state Department of Taxation has introduced updated mobile first tax search tools for its tax refund search and tax license search. The modernized versions of these two Web applications feature responsive design and provide the public quick and easy access to their tax refund status and tax license search information on their mobile devices.
The tax refund search is available at tax.ehawaii.gov/hoihoi, and the tax license search can be found at dotax.ehawaii.gov/tls/app. Both services also can be located via the Department of Taxation website at tax.hawaii.gov.
CPB cautions about debit card fraud
Central Pacific Bank said there have been fraudulent phishing attempts to obtain debit card information from bank customers via text and automated voice messages. The phishing attempt is not specific to CPB; however, the bank is advising all customers not to open suspicious messages.
If any CPB customers receive a suspicious message, they should not respond and should immediately delete the message.
For customer safety, CPB will never request confidential information via unsolicited phone, email or text messages. If any customers have already responded to a phishing attempt, or have any questions or concerns, they should contact the customer service center at 544-0500.
Yahoo’s email looks like Gmail in redesign
SAN FRANCISCO » Yahoo’s free email service is becoming a bit more like Google’s Gmail as part of its second makeover in less than a year. The similarities to Gmail probably aren’t coincidental. Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer helped design some of Gmail’s features while she was a top executive at Google.
Yahoo’s redesigned email unveiled Tuesday includes a Gmail-like tool that will thread together emails related to specific topics so they appear as a succession of messages.
Another new feature will enable Yahoo’s email users to decorate their inboxes with a selection of scenic pictures plucked from the company’s photo-sharing service, Flickr.
ON THE MOVE
Philip Chan has been named marketing representative for Xerox Hawaii. Prior to joining Xerox, Chan served as a student peer advisor at the University of Hawaii Office of Internships and Career Development.
The School of Travel Industry Management at the University of Hawaii at Manoa has hired Torsha Bhattacharya as an assistant professor specializing in transportation management, operations and planning. She previously taught classes in transportation planning at Florida State University and designed a new course on sustainable transportation.