Cyber criminals are increasingly trying to leverage people’s fear about the global pandemic to steal people’s money, the US Federal Bureau of Investigations warn.
The federal crime-fighting agency has issued a warning that the public should be alert about fake emails claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or other organisations claiming to offer information on the virus. The FBI advised people to avoid clicking on any links in emails from people they do not know.
The FBI also warned against the rise of phishing emails asking people to verify their personal information in order to receive an economic stimulus check from the government. The law enforcement agency stated that while there have been talk of economic stimulus checks has been in the news cycle, government agencies are not sending unsolicited emails asking for people’s private information in order to send them money.
The FBI noted that phishing emails may also claim to be related to other organisations, such as charitable contributions, general financial relief, airline carrier refunds, fake cures and vaccines, and fake testing kits
Other regulators and authorities have issued similar warnings over the past few weeks.
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