Phishing is a type of fraud in which a hacker attempts to gather sensitive, confidential or personal information such as ID no, PIN, Credit Card, credentials (usernames and passwords) and personal health information by impersonating a legitimate or a trustworthy entity and deceiving/rerouting users to a malicious website. This can lead to installation of malware, revealing sensitive information (identity theft), stealing funds, unauthorized purchases or system freezing as ransomware attack.
In the recent past, there is an increase in COVID-19-related phishing emails tied to vaccines. The lure attempts to exploit fears around vaccine availability and urgency where attackers are sending malicious email/information, telling users that they can fill out a form or click on a link in order to receive the vaccine.
Here are some guidelines:
- Watch out for emails, text messages or phone calls that come from a sender you don’t recognize and offers information about the COVID-19 vaccine. As with any message from an unknown sender, don’t click, download or share your password or any other personal information.
- Your health information can also be used for medical identity theft. Give out your insurance or health information only to professionals you know and trust, and monitor your insurance claims to make sure no one else is using your health insurance.
- Get information about COVID-19 vaccines only from official sources.
- Be wary of requests asking to pay some money to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine or to put your name on a COVID-19 vaccine waiting list. Avoid related advertisements or offers such as: for early access to a COVID-19 vaccine with payment, etc.
- Watch out for unsolicited emails, text messages or phone calls from someone claiming to
be from a medical office, hospital, insurance company or COVID-19 vaccine Centre. If you received an email purportedly coming from an official organization, check their official Website for official contacts & information, and contact them using the official contacts to determine that they really did send it to you.
- Be wary of advertisements for vaccines through social medial platforms or people offering to sell or ship doses of a COVID-19 vaccine to you (in exchange for a fee).
- Be cautious when opening emails and text messages from unknown senders who promise information on getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
- Scammers are also buying online adverts offering to sell vaccines directly to Internet users. Don’t be surprised if you online adverts of that nature. They likely just want to steal your credit card or bank information.
- Look out for fraudulent business offers on the COVID-19 vaccine that seem too good to be true or offers from unverified senders.
Be vigilant for COVID-19 vaccine scams, and COVID-19 scams in general, and especially in
the coming days.
