According to reports by cybersecurity firms, the cases of coronavirus phishing are increasing. It is easy to be susceptible to these fraudsters at such challenging times.
New Delhi: After the lost prince who will give his inheritance to the person who rescues him, giveaways by billionaires and lottery win for tickets that you never purchased, COVID 19 has become the latest subject for phishing scams. This type of cybercrime uses emails, text messages to lure victims to provide sensitive data like credit card details by posing as authentic organizations or individuals. The WHO has already issued a cyber-crime alert after many reports of emails asking for donations for coronavirus that seemed very authentic to the victim.
Although the phishing method remains the same- asking for personal information, installing malicious software through links there are different forms of emails that are getting circulated.
- WHO asking for donations- Reports have come in about very authentic-looking emails asking for contributions to fight the pandemic. An email from Vietnam even asked for donations for WHO bitcoin wallet
- Covid tests and kits- These emails either sell test kits or are for paying online for tests that you can then get done at specified hospitals.
- Extortion- Although in less number than other types of Covid-19 emails, these ones claim to know all your secrets and threaten to infect with the virus if the specified amount is not given to the scammer.
- Fake cures and contributions for vaccines- These usually come branded as email from WHO and other charitable organizations with attachments that have malware.
Although the number of phishing emails based on coronavirus is still low, it poses a greater risk as people are already vulnerable due to the rise of COVID-19 cases and widespread fear. According to reports by cybersecurity firms, the cases of coronavirus phishing are increasing. It is easy to be susceptible to these fraudsters at such challenging times. But common steps can help to avoid crises such as not clicking any links on emails by unknown senders, not revealing personal information online, carefully checking URLs to see where the page is being directed and most importantly going to actual sites of charitable organizations to make donations. WHO has also given clear directives on its website against phishing scams and a list of steps including contacting WHO to verify the authenticity of the email.
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