Urgent Tech Alert for Medina: New Phishing Scam Targets Local Businesses and Clinics

Hello Medina neighbors!

We hope this finds you safe and well. We’re writing today with an urgent heads-up for all local businesses, clinics, remote workers, and anyone handling sensitive information in Medina, Ohio—especially in the Brunswick Hills area and surrounding communities.

In the last 24 hours, at least three local medical practices and a handful of small businesses in Medina have reported being targeted by a sophisticated phishing email campaign. Several local residents shared that they received official-looking emails pretending to be from trusted sources—ranging from software vendors to even familiar local organizations.

We’ve already seen some buzz about this from Cleveland.com and the local Medina Gazette, and after checking with a few local IT pros, it’s clear: This threat is real, fast-moving, and everyone in the community needs to be on their guard.

What’s Happening?

Local entrepreneurs, administrative staff at medical offices, and remote workers report that the phishing messages look surprisingly authentic. Here’s what’s catching folks off guard:

• Fake domain names that are off by just a letter or two from a real business partner
• Detailed references to local organizations or even recent community events—criminals are clearly doing their homework
• Threats or urgent requests to renew accounts, update billing information, or click urgent links (the most common subject line: "Immediate Action Required for Your Secure Account")

Several Medina-area businesses forwarded suspicious emails to local tech support, who quickly confirmed these are not legitimate. A few unfortunate recipients clicked the links, which led to fake login pages designed to steal passwords and business data.

Real-Life Impact in Medina

We spoke with Dr. Susan P., who manages a small medical practice on Pearl Road. She recounted: "The email looked like it came from our EHR provider, even mentioning our clinic’s name and last week’s appointment totals. If I’d been in a rush, I could have given them our login! Fortunately, we called IT before going any further."

And it's not just medical offices—multiple local freelancers and solopreneurs reported similar scams pretending to be from QuickBooks or local banks like Huntington and Westfield Bank. In one case, a Medina County home-based worker nearly sent sensitive client files to a fake Dropbox link.

What Can You Do Right Now?

1. Pause and Verify

• If you get an urgent request involving sensitive info, stop and double-check.
• Hover over links to see if the address matches what you expect—especially if the domain looks slightly off.
• Call the company or person directly (don’t use contact info from the email).

2. Check Your Team’s Awareness

• If you manage a team—or just have a busy front desk—remind everyone to be skeptical of unsolicited emails, especially those that ask for quick action.

3. Update Your Security

• Make sure your business and personal devices are running the latest security updates.
• Use strong, unique passwords with a password manager.
• Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible (most banks, email, and EHR systems now support this!).

4. Share with Your Network

• Got a neighbor who owns a shop in Medina Square? A friend who works from home in Brunswick Hills? Please, pass this information along. We’re strongest when we look out for each other.

Local Support and Reporting

• If you receive a suspicious email, you can forward it to the Ohio Cyber Reserve, a state-supported volunteer cyber force.
• The Medina County Sheriff’s Office also tracks scams; you can report at (330) 725-0028.
• For medical offices, the Ohio State Medical Association has security resources and best practices.

Not Sure If It's a Scam? Quick Local Tips

• Look for typos and urgency. Big companies and official partners won’t rush or threaten you—especially not by email.
• Verify with a quick call or text using a phone number you know is correct (not one from the suspicious email).
• If in doubt, talk it out. The Medina tech community is friendly—don’t be shy about running a suspicious message past a local IT consultant, like the folks at Main Street Tech or Medina Computer Repair.

Stay Alert, Stay Connected, Stay Safe

These attacks aren’t just hitting the news—they’re right here in Medina, Ohio. With quick attention and good communication, we can keep our community’s businesses, clinics, and home offices protected.

Let’s keep talking, sharing, and watching out for scams—just like we look out for our neighbors during snowstorms or power outages.

If you have a story to share or see new scam tactics around Medina, we’d love to hear about it! Comment below, reach out on social media, or send a note to our editor. We’re here to help keep Brunswick Hills and all of Medina County cyber-smart.

For more on this story, keep an eye on local outlets like the Medina Gazette and WOIO 19 News. Stay safe out there, Medina!