As Covid-19 Vaccines Ramp Up, So Do Covid-19 Scams

In the year since Forbes first covered the scams preying on fears of the Covid-19 coronavirus, this area of cybercrime has simply exploded. The bogus websites have become phishing emails and phishing text messages. Now we have fake pollsters, fake messages from your HR department, fake cures and fake vaccine appointments. Scammers are using concern about the pandemic to steal identities and money.

Company HR departments are under attack because they’re a source for employee information, but also because they’re a source for material, such as company letterheads, to make their attacks seem legitimate. But so are local and regional health departments as scammers look for names of people who haven’t been vaccinated against Covid-19.

Over the past year, the phishing attacks have become more sophisticated. Some will credibly appear to be from an executive at your employer, it will be on company letterhead with a signature that looks real asking you to click on a link to sign up for a company-sponsored vaccine day. Others may look like they’re from your local health department offering an opportunity to schedule a vaccine appointment.

Fake Surveys

Perhaps the most effective, and one that’s raising red flags, are a flurry of survey emails and text messages. Those surveys will supposedly track your post vaccine recovery period and offer help for any side effects. What they’re doing instead is collecting your mobile phone number along with personal information that will then be used to send phishing texts and emails. While they’re doing that, your personal information will be sold to other cyber criminals to use in other attacks.

Because many of the attacks target older people, who because of their higher risk from the disease may be easier targets, AARP has also issued a warning.

The FBI is also focusing on Covid-19 scams, and has issued a warning of things that indicate a Covid-19 scam:

·      You are asked to pay out of pocket to get the vaccine.

·      You are asked to pay to put your name on a vaccine waiting list or to get early access

·      Advertisements for vaccines through social media platforms, email, telephone calls, online or from unsolicited/unknown sources

·      Marketers offering to sell or ship doses of the vaccine for payment

Along with the vaccine scams, there are relief payment scams from a wide variety of fake government agencies. The FTC lists a variety of fraudulent calls, texts and emails from the Social Security Administration, the IRS and the FDIC among a number of others. The calls usually say that you’ve had a stimulus payment approved, and that you must pay a fee to get the money sent to your bank.

Small Businesses Attacked

Scammers are also targeting small businesses, claiming to be able to provide small business loans such as the SBA’s economic disaster relief loans or the payroll protection program loans. They’ll ask for your bank account information so that the money can be directly deposited. You’ll be asked to pay their fees with gift cards, wire transfers or sometimes cryptocurrency. They may even ask you to mail cash.

Some things you need to remember. First, you never have to pay a fee for stimulus payments or for the small business funding. Second, the government will never ask you to pay for anything with a gift card. Third, The government will never “take away” or “deactivate” your social security number.

In addition, while some agencies may need relevant information for legitimate purposes, there’s very little that’s needed for a vaccine. And the information that’s needed for personal stimulus payments is already in the hands of the IRS. If you’re registering for a vaccine, do it by going to the website of your regional or local health department, or by calling them. Do not respond to emails or phone calls asking for personal information. And remember that the Covid-19 vaccine is free. While there may be a small administration charge in a few cases, your insurance covers that. You never have to pay to sign up for the vaccine.