Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus and caused quite a disruption in people’s lives with having to balance caring for the health of loved ones, learning to home-school children, all while continuing to make ends meet for their families, not to mention losing social outlets and drastic economic changes, leaving no space for more life hurdles.
So it is with the top focus of safety and health in mind that people need to stay vigilant about fraud. Criminals are taking advantage of widespread panic to make a quick buck. Phishing attacks are on the rise, with fraudsters posing as legitimate organizations such as the World Health Organization to get internet users of which is almost everyone right now, to click links or open attachments that will install malware and steal information.
Social engineering and attempts to get people to disclose personal information that will facilitate financial fraud are rampant and even include creative attempts at COVID19 tax refund schemes.
And as a result FICO has taken it upon themselves to help and protect people from fraud.
FICO (NYSE: FICO) is a leading analytics software company, helping businesses in 90+ countries make better decisions that drive higher levels of growth, profitability and customer satisfaction. As they provide analytics software and tools used across multiple industries to manage risk, fight fraud, build more profitable customer relationships, optimize operations and meet strict government regulations.
” We would like to share some guidance on how to prevent the bad guys from profiting off the panic. Some of these tips will be familiar, but they’re worth a reminder. You also may want to share them with relatives and seniors;
• Do not click links or open attachments from people you don’t know. If a company is sending you an email to advise you of their coronavirus response, Google the company’s name to navigate to their website where the information will likely be cross-posted.
• Talk to your loved ones and assure them you are safe, and what your plan would be to reach out if you need help. Grandparents and others can be tricked into sending payments and draining their savings – don’t let them be.
• Bear in mind fraudsters may be going door to door for scams such as disinfecting homes to gain access to a home, double-check their legitimacy during this time of social distancing.
• Be aware of pandemic related scams such as buying face masks, or fake funding sites purporting to be collecting money for people that have lost their jobs.
• If you are buying goods online, be careful of the seller’s legitimacy. When in doubt, Google the seller’s name + the word “scam”. If it’s a phone call, Google the number + the words “who called”.
• Think about how you want to pay for orders and use a trusted mechanism – such as a credit card and PayPal – which generally provides more protection. Be wary about making payments using wire transfers or bank transfers. If you are a victim of fraud, it will be difficult or impossible to get your money back.
• When trying to contact a company or your bank, only use the contact information you have found from a reliable source. For example, if you get an email that looks like it is from your bank don’t check by calling the number in that email, but rather look on the bank’s website or on your bank card. Scammers rely on creating a false sense of urgency, and the current situation is making us all more vulnerable. Be cautious about responding to any offer where there is undue time-related pressure. Stay safe and let’s flatten the COVID19 and the fraud curves!
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#Covid19
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www.sapositivenews.com
By: Bradley Brizzy – @Bradley_Brizzy
