According to the Missouri Trucking Association, yet another round of fraudulent DOT letters are being circulated. The letters are dated February 19, 2014 and are signed under the fictitious name Lois James- Senior Procurement Officer.
Once again there is a fraudulent DOT letter circulating, this time with the signatory being Louis James. You can see a copy of the letter here. It goes without saying that no one should respond to any request like this.
DOT says it does NOT request financial information from prospective contractors.
Letters from the DOT will always be accompanied with detailed contact information.
Similar versions of this letter have been sent to contractors purporting to be from Equifax or other credit reporting agencies.
If you’re concerned about the legitimacy of a letter you’ve received, you’re encouraged to call the Office of the Senior Procurement Executive at 202-366-4263.
If you would like to report a fraudulent request for information to DOT, please contact the Office of Inspector General (OIG) Hotline here, or by calling (800) 424–9071. The OIG may also provide your information to the U.S. Secret Service office in DC.
If you have already responded to such a request, please notify your financial institution immediately and contact the OIG Hotline and your local law enforcement agency. We also encourage you to contact your local law enforcement agency and your regional U.S. Secret Service office.