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CYBERSECURITY: CORONAVIRUS SCAMS ON THE RISE

The Federal Trade Commission has already received more than 13,000 coronavirus-related complaints, reporting
$9.6 million in total losses since January. On March 20, the Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a warning
about a rise in fraud schemes and urged “vigilance” during the pandemic.
Circulating schemes involve stimulus checks, airline refunds, charities, fines for breaking social-distancing rules,
“mandatory” Covid-19 preparedness tests, unproven treatments and sales of in-demand supplies like masks or
thermometers. These scams are designed to get you to take immediate action, more and more through texts and
calls.
Scammers are directing more efforts toward text-message (aka SMS) phishing, or “smishing.” The fraudulent
texts often include a link to a legitimate-seeming website with fields to enter login credentials or other sensitive
information. The links can also prompt malware to download.

Exercise basic precautions when using your phone such as:
• Don’t click on links you get on your phone unless you know the person they’re coming from.
• Don’t reply to text messages from people you don’t know. This is especially true when the SMS comes
from a phone number that doesn’t look like a phone number, such as “5000” phone number. These
numbers link to email-to-text services, which are sometimes used by scam artists to avoid providing their
actual phone numbers.
• Even if you get a text message with a link from a friend, consider verifying they meant to send the link
before clicking on it.
• Never install apps from text messages. Any apps you install on your device should come straight from the
official app store.
• Don't store your credit card or banking information on your smartphone.
• Err on the side of caution. If you have any doubt about the safety of a text message, don’t even open it.
• You should regard urgent security alerts and you-must-act-now coupon redemptions, offers or deals as
warning signs of a hacking attempt.
• Report all smishing attacks to the FCC to try to protect others.

Report suspected scams and questionable emails to SpamReport@Spok.com or contact Spok
Technology Operations Center (TOC) 24/7 972-801-0000