Are you at risk of COVID-19 fraud?
The COVID-19 pandemic is unlike anything we've known before. Unfortunately, cybercriminals and hackers are taking advantage of these unusual times and Canadians are at higher risk of falling victim to fraud, malware and ransomware. To thwart the attempts of these criminals, it is important to be vigilant to protect your personal information and to make sure that you are not vulnerable to malware or ransomware. Don't be the next victim of COVID-19 fraud.
Secure Email Practices
When it comes to COVID-19 fraud, the first general recommendation is to act with caution when it comes to email. Email is a popular medium among people looking to commit criminal or fraudulent activity. To follow best email practices, do the following:
Make sure you recognize the sender before opening an email and verify that the email address is written correctly.
If you intend to dial a phone number that was sent to you in an email, make sure you recognize it or verify that it is genuine by checking the organization's website.
Use caution before clicking on embedded links. Check that the website address is legitimate (official website address, written correctly). Although this is inconvenient, it is generally much safer to navigate to the page indicated by the link yourself.
Review email attachments carefully and don't open any you're unsure of, especially if you didn't expect to receive them or if they are from someone you don't know. If you are in doubt and know the sender, ask them to confirm that they intended to send you the attached file.
If a message communicates a sense of urgency either explicitly or implicitly, treat it as a suspicious message.
Question any offer that sounds too good to be true.
Protect your personal information and do not share it with anyone unless you are sure the request is not fraudulent. If in doubt, it is strongly recommended that you call to verify. This is especially important if the request is for banking services, credit cards or money transfers.
In the past, it has been known that crooks sent emails claiming to be from well-known companies and institutions. Most likely, you know or have some connection with most of these organizations. Given the huge media coverage of COVID-19, scammers are hoping that recipients will be more inclined to click on fraudulent links. Their objective ? Phishing you for money or personal information, or to install malware or ransomware on your device.
In addition to emails, and specifically those relating to COVID-19, some known frauds use other mediums to target people concerned about the spread of the coronavirus. While some of these scam tactics have already been exposed and are no longer worrisome, there are plenty of other active threats you should be aware of.
Websites offering information
It is nothing new that some websites seek to infect your computer with malware or ransomware, or even phish you for your personal information. However, COVID-19 offers cybercriminals who operate these sites a new way to attract the attention of potential victims due to the high volume of searches on the Internet for the coronavirus. These sites often claim to offer new drugs or effective treatments for COVID-19 to attract visitors.
Online Retail Sites
During the pandemic, many people are increasingly shopping at online retail stores, whether for convenience or to comply with social distancing policies. In the context of COVID-19, people looking for health and hygiene protection products to help prevent transmission of the virus should be wary of fraudulent products. You should also be aware that some sites have the sole purpose of phishing people for personal information by exploiting their newfound interest in products related to the pandemic. Right now, it's more important than ever that you only transact online with companies you can trust. Furthermore,
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