Don’t get complacent with COVID-19 scams

In a 1948 speech to the House of Commons, Winston Churchill said, “Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.” This quote is particularly accurate for those tasked with implementing cybersecurity programs. History has shown that every time there has been a global crisis, scammers and criminals will attempt to leverage public fear and confusion for their profit. As the world starts to reopen again, the challenge now is the possibility of complacency.

Since the global lockdown, there has been a steady increase in the number of COVID-19-related email attacks, and these scammers aren’t likely to back off any time soon. In addition to the advice outlined in this previous blog, here are some more helpful tips to share with your credit union members to keep their information security top of mind.

Beware of fake emails claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Remind your members to watch out for fake emails from organizations claiming to offer cures, vaccines or testing kits for COVID-19, and never click links or open attachments from senders you do not recognize. Fraudsters can use email links to deliver malware to your members’ devices and steal their personal information. Also be wary of websites and apps claiming to track COVID-19 cases worldwide. Criminals are using malicious websites to infect and lock devices until users cooperate by providing payment.

 

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