How to Protect Ourselves Against Coronavirus Scams and Fraud?

Frauds and Scams Related to Covid-19

Phishing: this scam is carried out by individuals who pretend to be members of a national or international health authority, such as the Ministry of Health of the Nation or the Provinces, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States ( CDC, for its acronym in English), or the World Health Organization (WHO). Scammers target their victims through emails with malicious attachments, links, or redirects to updates on the spread of COVID-19, new containment measures, maps of the outbreak, or ways to protect yourself from exposure to the virus. Once opened, the computer can be infected with malware (malicious software), or personal information or credit card data stored online can be exposed to hackers.

Fraudulent websites: Those related to the large number of internet domain registrations with the term COVID.

Compromising corporate email: In recent weeks there has been an increase in teleworking, accompanied by updates on COVID-19 to the entire company. This has opened a way for fraudsters to attack companies and their employees. Using covert emails, such as COVID-19 updates, attempts are made to trick employees into giving up their credentials by asking them to enter the portal of a fake COVID-19 company. Once they enter their credentials, scammers can have unrestricted access to the company's employee accounts and to its intranet.

Supply or supply scams: taking advantage of the shortage of certain products, delays in deliveries and the need for certain resources among the population, scammers establish fake online stores that sell medical supplies such as, for example, chinstraps, masks, latex gloves, and hand sanitizer (alcohol gel). Once the payment is made, the fraudsters take the money and never deliver the supplies.

Treatment scams: In the same way and through social networks and online forums, fraudsters promote fake products claiming to prevent the virus and lure victims with the promise of vaccines, fake cures, and unproven treatments.

Provider scam: the scammers posing as doctors or hospital administrators, generally claiming that they have successfully treated a friend or relative with COVID-19, and requesting payment for this treatment.

Charity scam: In addition, and taking advantage of the feeling of social responsibility to help reduce the impact on the community, scammers request donations for non-existent charities with the excuse of helping individuals, groups, or areas affected by the coronavirus, or to contribute to the development of a vaccine.

Scams via mobile applications: Fraudsters are developing or manipulating mobile applications, which externally appear to follow the spread of COVID-19. Thus, once installed, the application infects the device with malware that can be used to obtain personal information, sensitive data, bank accounts, or credit card data.

Investment scam: finally, and continuing with the tradition of the classic investment scam offers the opportunity to generate large returns on investment in companies that have services or products that can prevent, detect or cure COVID-19.

Take Care and Prevent

In the face of these threats, there are many forms of protection both personally and in business. To reduce vulnerability, it is crucial to ensure that teams and society are alert and warned about how criminal organizations are trying to take advantage of this global health crisis.

First, be wary of fraudulent emails that claim to come from pandemic experts and have key information related to the coronavirus. Also, we should not click on links or open attachments from unknown or unverified people.

In addition, they recommend checking the email addresses of these types of emails, which claim to have information related to COVID-19, and which have irregularities such as spelling errors or symbols. Fraudsters tend to use addresses that only have minor differences from those belonging to the people they are trying to imitate.

Likewise, customers have to be especially careful with fake online shops and stores, since they use non-traditional means of payment, such as money order (money order), gift cards, fund transfers, or crypto-currencies. Similarly, they advise conducting a background search before donating to any charities or crowdfunding campaigns.

Finally, it is very necessary of keeping the total security software installed on devices always up to date and be informed about trends in scams related to COVID-19.