Published: April 27, 2020 on our newsletter Security Fraud News & Alerts Newsletter.
There is no shortage of coronavirus scams floating around out there like bubbles from a child’s bubble maker. A recently seen one uses text messaging to make people think they have been in contact with someone who contracted the coronavirus. The text states the recipient should click a link to get tested for the virus and be sure to self-isolate too.
Law enforcement is warning the public not to click the link. While, as of writing, there is no specific detailed information in the various warnings as to what’s behind the included link, it’s believed it is indeed phishing for personal information.
Remember that under most circumstances, official agencies will not contact you via text, email, or phone call. Most likely, if any government organization needs to communicate with you, they will initiate that using a letter and the U.S. Postal Service. In the case of coronavirus, techniques vary and are changing as more is known about the virus. With the measles outbreak, it was widely publicized where an infected person had been and people who were in the same places could take action. In this case, it may be a phone call, but the person on the line should not be asking for personally identifying information, such as your social security number or birthdate. Instead, they should advise self-isolation and to watch for symptoms of coronavirus.
In times like this, cybercriminals don’t stop working. They continue to use current events, pandemics, and natural disasters to try to trick people into giving up personal information. Before clicking any link or attachment in email that may result in you getting scammed or ripped off, take some time to evaluate whether or not it’s necessary to click it.
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