Phishing scams use the promise of COVID-19 vaccines to trick you



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Vaccines offered by unexpected SMS, emails or phone calls Don’t go crazy.

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For the most recent news and information on the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO website.

As we all hope for the end of the Coronavirus pandemic, many people naturally focus on the COVID-19 vaccine. The crooks know this. And while you daydream about kissing your loved ones, going to concerts, or just feeling safe in a grocery store, they are busy crafting vaccine-related phishing campaigns to trick you into passing on personal information, money or access to your device.

Last month, the FBI issued a warning urging people to use caution when opening emails and texts from unknown senders promising information on how to get vaccinated. The same was true of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, a division of the US Treasury Department. Police in Florida, the UK and other jurisdictions have said they are also seeing the scams appear. In the English county of Derbyshire, law enforcement officials say crooks sent texts containing links to a site that painstakingly mimicked the appearance of the UK’s National Health Service. The aim was to steal personal and financial information, authorities said.

The crooks also buy advertisements offering to sell vaccines directly to Internet users. They probably just want to steal your credit card information, but even if they sent something that claims to be a vaccine, that would be extremely dangerous.

Online crooks have been using crises and major events for years to defraud people. The pandemic has created an attractive situation because the whole world is aware of the disease and the hardships it causes in everyone’s lives. From a criminal’s perspective, this is a great opportunity to get many people to act against their better judgment. The crooks seized this opportunity as soon as the pandemic took hold, offering snake oil cures that never materialized in exchange for credit card numbers or hacking into their target’s computers.

Now, vaccines give crooks yet another appeal to their targets.

“These attacks are plagued by our desire for information in times of uncertainty,” said Tony Pepper, CEO of cybersecurity firm Egress. Scams, Egress says, can be “incredibly convincing”, especially for older people, who are top of the lists for vaccinations and can wait to hear from medical authorities.

Set up a scam

As early as November, researchers at cybersecurity firm Check Point noticed a significant increase in domain names for websites referring to vaccines. Scammers usually register a new domain name linked to their scam when setting up a phishing campaign, to serve as a place to attract their targets.

Websites may contain legitimate looking web forms intended to steal payment or healthcare information, or they may host malware that installs itself on your device when you visit. Malware or malware can expose you ransomware attacks, pop-up ads this make your device unusable and other intrusive hacker attacks.

You will usually come across a vaccine scam in the form of a compelling message designed to get you to take action. Check Point researchers found emails with subject lines including “pfizer’s Covid Vaccine: 11 Things You Need To Know.” This message contained a malicious file that would have infected recipients’ computers with malware if opened.

Fraudulent ads for vaccines

If you search online for vaccine information, later you may see ads on various websites for vaccine doses that you can order online. Scammers buy these ads because they know you’re interested in vaccines, just like legitimate retailers might show you rain ads for days after you’ve searched for wet weather clothing.

Vaccine ads are another scam aimed at collecting your financial information. Researchers at fraud detection company Bolster found an ad purporting to sell Sinovac vaccine from China, but the company was clearly fraudulent. Registered in Panama, the website lists phone numbers shared by other companies, including a waterless car wash service and a talent management agency.

Even though the company has sent something claiming to be a vaccine, direct sales of the real COVID-19 vaccine are nearly impossible due to the cost of maintaining the correct cold temperature range for packaging at all times.

Avoiding vaccine fraud

The FBI urges people to be wary of any email, text, or phone call from a sender you don’t recognize and offers information on the coronavirus vaccine. As with any message from an unknown sender, do not click, download or share your password. Get your vaccine information from official sources, such as state and local health departments, the Food and Drug Administration, and your doctor.

Next, remember that your health information can also be used for medical identity theft. Only share your insurance or health information with professionals you know and trust, and monitor your insurance claims to make sure no one else is using your health insurance. Additionally, don’t trust strangers who send unsolicited messages offering Medicare benefits, coronavirus tests, or vaccines in exchange for your personal data, including Medicare information. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, this is another scam that has become common in the pandemic.

Finally, whatever you do, do not inject any vaccines bought on the Internet.

The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended for health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have about a medical condition or health goals.

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