Top 4 COVID-19 Scams to Watch Out For
1. Malicious Websites
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, cyber threat actors have consistently capitalized on global interest surrounding the latest information on the virus. These threat actors take advantage of internet users by registering website domains related to COVID-19. Fake websites and applications typically claim to share news, testing results, or other resources, however, they ONLY want your credentials, bank account information, or to infect your devices with malware.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, cyber threat actors have consistently capitalized on global interest surrounding the latest information on the virus. These threat actors take advantage of internet users by registering website domains related to COVID-19. Fake websites and applications typically claim to share news, testing results, or other resources, however, they ONLY want your credentials, bank account information, or to infect your devices with malware.
2. Phishing Emails
Expect phishing emails to be on the rise Cyber threat actors will utilize COVID-19 phishing emails in an attempt to convince the recipient to either reveal sensitive information (i.e. bank account information), or simply try to convince the recipient to open a malicious link or attachment, allowing them to potentially access your system.
3. Fraudulent Charities
For as long as the pandemic is around there will always be consistent attempts by threat actors to create fraudulent charities seeking donations for illegitimate or non-existent organizations. Fake charity and donation websites will try to take advantage of one’s good will, especially during such hard times. Always do your research before donating and providing any information.
For as long as the pandemic is around there will always be consistent attempts by threat actors to create fraudulent charities seeking donations for illegitimate or non-existent organizations. Fake charity and donation websites will try to take advantage of one’s good will, especially during such hard times. Always do your research before donating and providing any information.
4. Unemployment Scams
As tax season is quickly approaching, be wary of identity theft scams involving fraudulent claims, especially surrounding unemployment benefits. This scam has especially skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic as unemployment claims in general have been on the rise. The most typical scams to be on the lookout for (but are not limited to) include telling recipients that they’ve won contests, a cash prize, or are eligible for an award for applying for unemployment.
As tax season is quickly approaching, be wary of identity theft scams involving fraudulent claims, especially surrounding unemployment benefits. This scam has especially skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic as unemployment claims in general have been on the rise. The most typical scams to be on the lookout for (but are not limited to) include telling recipients that they’ve won contests, a cash prize, or are eligible for an award for applying for unemployment.
The Security Tips Newsletter can be read in its entirety for other valuable information.
Money Mule
What is a Money Mule?
If someone sends you money and asks you to send it to someone else, STOP! You could be what is being called a “Money Mule", someone scammers use to transfer and launder stolen money. Scammers are taking advantage of the uncertainty and fear surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic to steal your money, access your personal and financial information, and use you as a money mule.
TSB Debit Card Customers - Scam Alert
2/20/2020 - Tennessee State Bank has been informed by our debit card customers that they received calls or text messages that appear to be coming from TSB FraudWatch. Please read the letter that was sent to our debit card customers.
Data Privacy Day -
This Year's Theme for Data Privacy Day - January 28, 2020
This year, Data Privacy Day will spotlight the value of information. Whether you’re an individual looking to better manage your privacy and how your data is collected and shared, or a business collecting, using and storing that information, remember: Personal information is like money. Value it. Protect it.
This year, Data Privacy Day will spotlight the value of information. Whether you’re an individual looking to better manage your privacy and how your data is collected and shared, or a business collecting, using and storing that information, remember: Personal information is like money. Value it. Protect it.
Data Privacy Day is an international effort held annually on Jan. 28 to create awareness about the importance of respecting privacy, safeguarding data and enabling trust. Data Privacy Day (DPD) is officially lead by the National Cyber Security Alliance in North America. It is an international effort held annually on January 28 to create awareness about the importance of respecting privacy, safeguarding data and enabling trust. DPD highlights easy ways to protect personal information and reminds organizations that privacy is good for business. This year, we are encouraging everyone to “Own Your Privacy” by learning more about how to help protect the valuable data that is online.
Despite many organizations best efforts in handling and using your private information properly, the countless breaches of Privacy by cyber criminals in the past few years have resulted in the exposure of information about millions of people. One reaction to such breaches can be to provide credit monitoring for one year. This is a very short amount of time to have such a protection. Those that have stolen the information, or those to whom they have passed it on, may hold it for much longer than a year before using it to steal your identity, commit credit card fraud, or worse in your name. If you have been a victim of a breach, check out some of the FTC’s resources on starting a credit freeze to protect yourself.
Protecting privacy is both your responsibility and that of those individuals and organizations that have information about you. Do everything in your power to be aware of how you personally can compromise your privacy and hold those organizations that you engage with accountable for their management, or mismanagement, of your personal information.
