Covid-19: Beware of criminals pretending to be your insurer
There has been an increase in phishing and SMS scams, says the Insurance Crime Bureau.
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to disrupt global health, economic, political and social systems, there’s another major threat rising in the digital space – insurance, banking and donations scams.
The spread of Covid-19 has pushed many organisations to adopt remote work policies. This increase in remote work has created a gap in cyber security and it’s becoming a growing concern as cyber criminals are exploiting the pandemic to target organisations (to install malware) and individuals (to steal sensitive information).
ALSO READ: Beware: Coronavirus scam artists are doing the rounds
Hackers and cyber criminals are taking advantage of the pandemic by sending fraudulent emails that look legitimate and attempt to trick you into clicking on malicious links or opening attachments.
The Insurance Crime Bureau said there has been a big increase in phishing and SMS scams that prey on increased reliance on digital tools, looking to commit insurance, banking or donations fraud related to Covid-19.
In a statement, the Bureau said some “red flags” to watch out for are APPLY for insurance discounts by clicking the following the link, or DONATE by clicking the following the link, or click on the link to UPDATE your banking information as your account has been frozen.
“We are strongly urging our members and the public to remain vigilant of suspicious messages attempting to take advantage of the Covid-19 emergency. It takes a concerted team effort to fight back against criminals, as no individual organisation has the capacity to single-handedly stop these criminals. By combining the resources and
expertise of insurers and law enforcement agencies, fraud can be detected, deterred and stopped — helping to protect us all,” the statement read.
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