Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Yes, a message delivered through GovDelivery can be a scam—even when it appears to come from a real government address. Reports from 2025 describe criminals abusing compromised customer accounts to send fraudulent messages, while separate incidents involved unauthorized access to a county subscriber email list and scammers impersonating GovDelivery support. Those incidents do not, by themselves, prove that Granicus’s underlying platform was breached.
How GovDelivery scam messages have been sent
GovDelivery is a messaging service used by government organizations. A message can misuse the channel if an attacker gains access to a customer or contractor account; that is different from evidence that the vendor’s platform systems were compromised.
Indiana toll-payment scam
On May 13, 2025, TechCrunch reported that Indiana warned residents about fraudulent messages concerning unpaid tolls. Indiana attributed the activity to a hacked contractor account. The messages reportedly came from an official state email address associated with the Emergency Operations Center, and a displayed GovDelivery URL redirected to a site imitating Texas toll service TxTag and seeking personal and payment-card information. A familiar sender and a plausible delivery link therefore were not proof that the request was safe.
Granicus confirmed a compromised user account. Its spokesperson told TechCrunch, “Granicus systems themselves were not breached.” Indiana also said its contract with the company had ended in December 2024 and that the account remained; that contract detail is Indiana’s claim as reported by TechCrunch. The report did not provide a verified count of Indiana recipients.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The Security Key C NFC is the essential physical passkey for protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts.
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single Security Key C NFC secures 100 of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more.
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your Security Key C NFC via USB-C and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC) to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required.
- TRUSTED PASSKEY TECHNOLOGY: Uses the latest passkey standards (FIDO2/WebAuthn & FIDO U2F) but does not support One-Time Passwords. For complex needs, check out the YubiKey 5 Series.
- BUILT TO LAST: Made from tough, waterproof, and crush-resistant materials. Manufactured in Sweden and programmed in the USA with the highest security standards.
Other reported incidents
TechCrunch also described a compromise involving Doña Ana County’s news portal and a scam message impersonating a professional services company. County IT Director Kent English characterized the incident as a “system-wide issue affecting other government clients.” That is his characterization in the report, not proof of a breach of Granicus’s platform.
Kitsap County said an unauthorized party accessed its GovDelivery subscriber email list on March 26, 2025. Some subscribers received an unauthorized message claiming they had unclaimed money in a cryptocurrency account. In its March 28 notice, the county said its investigation found that subscriber email addresses alone had been accessed, with no personal or financial subscriber data compromised. County Administrator Torie Brazitis said, “This email was unauthorized and would never be sent by Kitsap County.”
Rank #2
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The YubiKey 5 NFC is the most versatile physical passkey, protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with popular accounts like Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single YubiKey 5 NFC secures 100+ of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your YubiKey 5 NFC via USB and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC), to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required
- MOST SECURE PASSKEY: Supports FIDO2/WebAuthn, FIDO U2F, Yubico OTP, OATH-TOTP/HOTP, Smart card (PIV), and OpenPGP. That means it’s versatile, working almost anywhere you need it
- PRIMARY & SPARE KEYS: Just like having a spare house key, we recommend buying two YubiKeys - one for daily use and one as a spare. That way you’ll never get locked out of your accounts
What to do if you receive a suspicious GovDelivery message
- Do not click the link or reply with sensitive information. Do not provide passwords, payment-card details, or other credentials. A real-looking sender address does not rule out misuse of a customer account.
- Verify the claim independently. For an unexpected bill, toll notice, refund, cryptocurrency claim, or account warning, find the agency’s official website or phone number separately. Do not rely on contact details or payment links in the message.
- Check agency-specific warnings. The Indiana Judicial Branch says, “We do not use GovDelivery to send email and texts.” That warning applies to Indiana Courts, not automatically to other Indiana agencies or government organizations.
- If you submitted information, act through verified channels. Contact the relevant financial institution or agency using independently confirmed contact details. Kitsap County’s notice directed readers to the FTC, the state Attorney General, law enforcement, and credit bureaus. It did not say that every subscriber needed a credit freeze.
For Indiana Courts’ specific guidance, see the Indiana Judicial Branch warning. The Branch’s page asks, “Did you get a suspicious email or text message through GovDelivery?”
Scams impersonating GovDelivery support are a separate threat
Granicus has also warned that fraudulent callers and email senders have impersonated its GovDelivery Compliance and Support teams. These approaches target administrators, for example by seeking credentials or arranging suspicious meetings. They are distinct from a scam message sent through an abused customer account.
Rank #3
- Security Key : Protect your online accounts against unauthorized access by using FIDO2 and U2F authentication with T110. It's the world's most protective security key that works with windows, Mac OS, Linux as well as Chrome, Firefox, Edge and many other major browsers.
- Certified with the new FIDO2 standard, T110 provides the benefit of fast login and strong protection against phishing, account takeover as well as many other online attactks.
- Works with : Bank of America, Github, Google, Microsoft, DUO, Twitter, Facebook, Dropbox, Apple, ebay, BINANCE, mor and more.
- Fits USB-A port : Insert the T110 security key into the USB-A port of each service and log in conveniently with one touch
- For the driver download and user guide, please visit TrustKey Solutions Home support page.
In a March 26, 2025 bulletin, the Granicus Security Team said “our security protocols strictly prohibit requesting password credential information via phone calls or any other means.” Do not share credentials or accept an unexpected meeting request as proof that a caller or sender is legitimate. Confirm support requests using contact channels your organization already trusts.
What government administrators should review
Granicus’s March 26, 2025 bulletin recommended the following controls. Administrators should check current vendor and agency procedures, since the recommendations are dated and account setups can differ.
Rank #4
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The YubiKey 5C NFC is the most versatile physical passkey, protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with popular accounts like Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single YubiKey 5C NFC secures 100+ of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your YubiKey 5C NFC via USB and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC), to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required
- MOST SECURE PASSKEY: Supports FIDO2/WebAuthn, FIDO U2F, Yubico OTP, OATH-TOTP/HOTP, Smart card (PIV), and OpenPGP. That means it’s versatile, working almost anywhere you need it
- PRIMARY & SPARE KEYS: Just like having a spare house key, we recommend buying two YubiKeys - one for daily use and one as a spare. That way you’ll never get locked out of your accounts
- Use multifactor authentication (MFA) when possible.
- Apply email filters and use DMARC reporting to help identify suspicious messages and authentication issues.
- Train users to recognize suspicious requests and restrict account authorization to people who need it.
- Limit administrator privileges and promptly deactivate access for staff who leave.
- Escalate suspicious account activity through established security channels.
A hardware security key may be an MFA option for administrators if their identity provider and agency policy support it. The cited vendor guidance does not establish which MFA methods any particular GovDelivery customer supports.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the reports do—and do not—establish
The 2025 reports establish that scammers abused or accessed customer-side messaging accounts and subscriber information in specific incidents, and that Granicus warned of separate support impersonation. They do not establish how often GovDelivery abuse occurs, the number of people who received the Indiana email, the current status of the malicious domains, or the security status of every GovDelivery customer. Granicus’s statement about the Indiana incident was that its systems themselves were not breached; the evidence described above should not be generalized into a platform-wide conclusion.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Sources: Granicus, “Information about your govDelivery account” (March 26, 2025); Zack Whittaker, TechCrunch (May 13, 2025); Kitsap County notice (March 28, 2025); and the Indiana Judicial Branch warning.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
