Consumers need to beware of an email scam that uses Florida Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier‘s name and title, officials warned.

The state Office of Insurance Regulation and the Department of Financial Services were made aware of the scam that involves “the unauthorized use” of Altmaier’s name and position, according to a news release.

The fraudulent email says “that all of the recipient’s insurance policies have been cancelled,” the release stated.

The state Office of Insurance Regulation does not send cancellation notices and any such notice should be disregarded, it added.

“Consumers should not click on any links contained with the email message, and should immediately delete the email,” the release said.

Anyone who receives the email should report it to the Department of Financial Services’ Insurance Consumer Helpline at 877-693-5236.

As of Friday, the department had received calls from consumers in Miami-Dade, Hillsborough, Leon, Duval, Brevard, Lee, Sarasota and Levy counties about emails with the subject line “Your Insurance Cancellation,” spokeswoman Ashley Carr said.

“We believe it is a phishing expedition to get consumers to provide their personal information,” Carr said.

Source:  SunSentinel