Scandalous though it may sound, cyber-criminals are using the coronavirus crisis to prey on unsuspecting individuals. Cyber security experts have reported an increase in email scams over the last few weeks, taking advantage of the public’s heightened anxiety and uncertainty. Unfortunately, these scams have lead to a lot of people losing their hard earned savings which often cannot be recovered, so awareness is key to protecting your finances. Here are five in particular to watch out for:
‘Click for a cure’
The email purports to be from a doctor who claims to have details about a vaccine, linking to a spoof webpage to collect login details. The best way to check where a link will take you is to hover your mouse cursor over it. This will reveal the true web address. If it looks suspicious, don’t click it. There is currently no known cure so you can be certain this email is fake.
‘Covid-19 tax refund’
This email looks like it comes from HMRC and states that you are eligible for a tax refund. If you do press the “access your funds now” link, it takes you to a fake government web page and encourages you to input all your financial and tax information. The real HMRC would never contact you in this way about a potential refund. In general, you should never click links in emails relating to money. If the sender appears to be a bank or other organisation you recognise, close the email and log in to your online banking through their website, if they really are trying to contact you, there will be a message on your account.
‘The virus is now airborne’
Designed to look like it’s from the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, this email’s subject line reads, “Covid-19 – now airborne, increased community transmission.” It uses one of the organisation’s legitimate email addresses but is sent via a spoofing tool. By directing you to a plausible looking fake Outlook page and asking you to enter your details, the hackers can get control of your email account, which in turn gives them access to other services your email is connected to. Two-factor authentication is a good way to protect yourself so that you have to enter a code texted to you to access your email account. You can also check spoof email addresses by hovering over the sender’s name, which reveals the real email address used.
‘A little measure that saves’
Purporting to be from the World Health Organisation (WHO), this scam claims that the attached document contains details of how you can prevent the disease’s spread. In fact, it will just infect your computer with malicious software which records every keystroke so that the hackers can monitor your every move online. Ignore any emails that claim to be from the WHO as they’re highly likely to be fake. Instead, visit their official website or look at their social media channels for the most up-to-date advice.
‘Donate to the fight’
Another fake email claiming to be from the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention asks for donations in Bitcoin to help develop a vaccine. Although it may sound preposterous, the email address and signature evidently look convincing. Security expert company, Kaspersky, have discovered 513 files with coronavirus in their title which contain malware.
If you’re in any doubt about whether something is genuine, ask a trusted tech-savvy friend or family member. Be especially alert to any emails asking for money and visit trusted websites directly rather than clicking links.