With the COVID-19 pandemic spreading worldwide, police are warning about scam artists taking advantage of public health fears to spread misinformation and sell various "services" to unsuspecting consumers. While the different scams being purveyed are pretty much limited only by the imagination of scam artists, the following have become especially common in recent weeks:
- Private companies offering ‘fast’ covid-19 tests for sale;
- Fraudulent and deceptive online ads offering cleaning products, hand sanitizers and other items in high demand;
- Malicious email campaigns that capitalize on the public’s fears about COVID-19,
- Door-to-door offering fake decontamination services;
- Fraudsters may urge you to invest in hot new stocks related to the disease.
In the United States, many states have started Coronavirus Fraud task forces which have partnered with the Criminal Investigation branch of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS-CI) to warn the public of being targeted by scammers. The IRS-CI has specifically warned taxpayers about scammers trying get people to sign over their stimulus checks to them by asking for filing information that would enable them to steal this money directly. Given that these scams specifically target older adults and immigrants with limited English, many of whom are particularly vulnerable, authorities worry that victims may be too ashamed or intimidated to complain afterward.
Many consumers are also complaining about price-gouging for items such as medical supplies, hand sanitizer, personal hygiene products, food, water, medicine, automobile parts, and, even baby formula. This is in addition to familiar scamming tools such as robocalls, phishing schemes, and other scams using COVID-19 keywords. Protection agencies warn all consumers targeted by these scams to:
- Check anti-fraud websites. In the United States, check out the Department of Justice site at; https://www.justice.gov/fraudtaskforce/report-fraud/chart In Canada, consumers are directed to: www.antifraudcentre.ca.
- Find the latest health information at the World Health Organization website at: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019: In Canada, check out: he World Health Organization at: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
- Finally, beware of unauthorized or fraudulent charities requesting money for victims or research. You should never be pressured into making a donation.
But consumers are also being besieged by cyberattacks which use concerns about the pandemic to spread computer viruses using a new rash of malicious software and scams. In mid-March, email messages purportedly from the World Health Organization carried an attachment ostensibly containing official information about COVID-19 and how people can protect themselves. Instead, the attachment contained a hidden installer allowing cybercriminals to detect keystrokes on personal computers to steal passwords and other important information. Other phishing schemes attempt to entice users to official-seeming websites where they are asked to login and view safety information (making them vulnerable to identity theft).
As the pandemic continues, more of these scams are expected to crop up as scammers shift from their usual routines to exploit popular fears. All users are urged to be cautious about clicking on attachments or following links to potentially dangerous sites. They are also advised to keep all anti-virus and firewall software up-to-date as well as regularly using anti-scam software such as Malwarebytes.
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