NCDPI has received multiple alerts about a growing social engineering campaign in which threat actors are requesting payments for test-related items by posing as WIDA or ACCESS representatives, The ACT, or a test prep company acting on their behalf. Under no circumstances will NCDPI ask for payment regarding these tests.
NCDPI has also made The ACT aware of the situation. The ACT does not use email, postal mail, or telephone campaigns to sell third-party test prep resources or services.
The threat actor(s) have been contacting parents, students, and districts in various ways, including, but not limited to, email, phone, and SMS. In some cases, they have been aware of information such as the student’s name, address, and grade level.
Please carefully investigate any test prep offer and be on the lookout for common signs of scams, including:
Sense of urgency
Suspicious domains, links, or attachments
Unexpected payment requests
Please reach out to Fallon Fuller at fallon_fuller@pender.k12.nc.us if you have any questions regarding the legitimacy of a test-related communication.