Beware | 2020 is fertile ground for online scams

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▲ Online scams come in many forms and via any kind of device. (Photo: Getty)

Pandemic has caused mass unemployment worldwide and there are many other issues going on that are occupying our collective attention. Sadly, this kind of large-scale distraction is fertile ground for hackers.

"We have the COVID disaster combined with the economic disaster combined with the protests," said Adam Levin, cyber security expert and founder of CyberScout. "We are now in the middle of what can be considered a perfect storm for scammers."

Speaking of the US as an example, Levin says that the current climate of the country has set the stage for an online scam trifecta: motive, means, and opportunity.

"The motive for scammers is, for the most part, financial gain," he continues. "The means is phishing, spear phishing, vishing (phone-based phishing), or smishing (SMS- or text-based phishing)," among other things. And the opportunity? "Anything that in any way touches something impacted by COVID," he says, from stimulus check messaging to health updates. The ways in which online activism will motivate scammers remains to be seen.

Here are some of the biggest scams to look out for at the moment.

Stimulus Payment Scams

▲ Once a phishing scammers gets you, they can steal your passwords easily. (Photo: Getty)

An email from a recipient you don’t know encourages you to click on a link—which then grants hackers access to everything from your bank account to your social security number. It's called phishing, and it’s an old trick that keeps getting reinvented. “Never underestimate the creativity, sophistication, or persistence of hackers," warns Levin.

One of the newest phishing tactics preys upon people seeking updates on their stimulus checks. But the IRS will never contact you by email (nor phone, text, or social media). “Anyone who does is a scammer phishing for your information," the FTC's site warns. A phishing email may ask you to confirm personal information or even "inform" you of suspicious activity or log-in attempts using your information on the IRS website. It’s all bogus, says the FTC.

Fake charity scams

▲ Fake charities are easy to spot once you're informed. Mobile security apps can help. (Photo: Getty)

"During this disaster, there are legitimate organizations out there raising money to help victims of COVID and their families," says Levin. The same can be said of charities collecting funds for civil rights and social justice.

But do your research before you enter your credit card information. "There are scammers out there that come out with fake charitable requests," says Levin. 

"The avenues that these can come through are obviously email, and then we have 'smishing,' or SMS phishing."

This means you’ll get a text message from a number claiming to represent a charity and asking you to donate online. The FTC notes that telltale signs of a charity scam include a sense of urgency, vague claims about how your money will be used, or even a message thanking you for a donation you never made. Check all charities against Charity Navigator to make sure they’re legit.

Fraudulent sites claiming to sell PPE

▲ Don't fall for fake PPE sites.  (Photo: Getty)

"You have to be really, really careful about any link that you click on," says Levin, and he's not just talking about phishing and smishing. The FTC warns that scammers are targeting consumers desperate for personal protective equipment (PPE), and they're setting up fraudulent websites to lure them in—a practice called 'pharming,’ according to Norton.

Levin says the scammers are banking on a new wave of shoppers who will start looking for face masks as travel starts to open up. Protestors are likely looking to restock, too. The idea with fake websites is that you place your order but never get your shipment, says the FTC—and in the process, you share your payment information with scammers.

Income tax identity theft

▲ Tax return fraud means someone has your social security number who shouldn't. (Photo: Getty)

This scam is tricky because you’re never baited. In fact, you don't know someone's used your identity to file a fraudulent tax return until you try to file your own, according to Lifelock. And with the tax deadline extended to July 15, 2020, there’s more of a chance than ever to fall for this one if you haven't already filed this year.

Here's how it goes down: Scammers file a false return with all your identifying information and a lot of fake deductions in hopes of collecting a big, fat refund. Apparently, it happens a lot: The IRS identified $135 million in fraudulent tax returns in the first two months of 2020 alone, according to Bambridge Accountants New York.

Of course, in order to attempt income tax identity theft, a scammer needs your social security number among other crucial personal information. "And keep in mind that if you have enough information to file a fake tax return, you have enough information to commit full-on identity theft against a victim," says Levin.

Fake job scams

Many people are losing their jobs due to COVID and are looking for new ways to create income, so they’re more vulnerable than ever to employment scams, which come in the form of everything from emails to banner ads.

"Oftentimes, [people] don't realize that if they respond to certain work-at-home type jobs, they could be opening themselves up to losing money or having their identity stolen," says Levin.

Here are some tell-tale signs of a fake job offer, according to the FTC: It promises you a job right off the bat, guarantees that you will make money, and often says you can work at home. If a potential employer “makes you a money mule,” as Levin puts it, or asks you to use your own credit card to cover upfront costs, it is most likely a scam, says the FTC.

With that said, plenty of job ads are real, of course, but before rushing to apply one should always remember that "if it is too good to be true..."

Good luck all~

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