Fraudsters see opportunities in these uncertain times.
Never have we been
so attractive as targets for fraudsters and scammers as we are right now.
That’s because the uncertainty around the coronavirus
pandemic has created more opportunities for robocallers, hackers and other
thieves.
For one thing,
millions of people are filing new claims for unemployment benefits and awaiting
stimulus checks. So when a phone call or an email from someone purporting to be
a bank or a government official comes in, it is tougher for us to ignore. Plus
with so many people being required to work from home, our personal tech devices
have become an attractive target for those looking to infiltrate businesses.
While there is
little data about the extent of such shadowy activities, security experts said
they had seen an increase in scams invading our inboxes, phones and websites.
Last month, the Federal
Trade Commission issued a warning, advising people to not respond to
digital communications from those claiming to have information about checks
from the government, among other schemes. “It’s a Pandora’s box of
opportunities that they can leverage,” said Sam Espinosa, an executive at Next
Caller, which develops technology to detect fraudulent calls. “The first time
you’re dealing with unemployment may not be the time you’re thinking, ‘This is
a fraudster.’”
In a survey by
Next Caller last week, 37 per cent of the respondents said they believed they
had been targeted by fraud and scams related to the coronavirus, up from 32 per
cent last month. In addition, 44 per cent said they felt more vulnerable to
fraud now that their businesses were allowing them to work from home. I talked
to security experts about some of the most prominent scams and ways we can
protect ourselves. Here’s a guide of what not to fall for.
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