KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Consumers who would not fall for a phishing scam promising a free dream vacation or a new car are now falling prey to scams involving COVID-19.
The Federal Communication Commission, the Better Business Bureau and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention all have messages on their websites warning that cyber scammers are using keywords such as mandatory testing, COVID-19 relief fund and COVID-19 vaccine to trick people into downloading links, sharing their bank information and Social Security numbers, and sending money to a cash app.
“It’s a very emotional thing. If someone contacts you and says that you’ve been exposed to COVID, you’ve got to get a test, we’re likely to react in the wrong way," said Jeff Lanza, a cyber crimes expert. "Call your doctor if that comes up. Don’t respond to text messages, emails, phone calls where they say this has happened, because the criminals are trying to trick us around COVID and we’re not going to let it happen to us.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every area of daily life. People now wear masks and social distance, and they're consumed by the daily news of how many more people are getting the virus and the shocking national death toll.
The fear is real, and cyber criminals are taking advantage of that. Lanza said he has heard story after story about people falling prey to a COVID-19 scam.
“Hey, my mother got one of these phone calls, they said it was a contact tracer and they wanted her Social Security number and they wanted her credit card to arrange for a test. So we know if it’s happening to one, it’s happening to many,” Lanza added.
He said it’s important not to download unfamiliar or unsolicited links and not to click on the icon to stop or unsubscribe. He said clicking stop will just mean more emails and text messages.
The cyber crimes expert said that if you mistakenly click on a link and download a document or video, make sure to install antivirus software to get rid of the possible malware.
Experts say it’s also a good idea to change your password often.
