Fraud Schemes Related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently issued an alert that provides information on how to protect yourself and your organization from scammers attempting to use the COVID-19 pandemic to steal money and/or personal information.

The FBI advises us to be on the lookout for:

• Emails claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or other organizations claiming to offer information on the virus. Do not click links or open attachments you do not recognize.
• Websites and apps claiming to track COVID-19 cases worldwide. Criminals are using malicious websites to infect and lock devices until payment is received.
• Emails asking you to verify personal information in order to receive an economic stimulus check from the government. While talk of economic stimulus checks has been in the news cycle, government agencies are not sending unsolicited emails seeking your private information in order to send you money.

More information, including information on counterfeit treatments and equipment, are in FBI Alert Number I-032020-PSA, which may be found here: https://www.ic3.gov/media/2020/200320.aspx.

Date this Avoiding Pitfall was most recently published: 3/27/2020