Internet Blog

Concept Digital Media Internet Blog

3 minutes reading time (621 words)

Email Scams during the Covid-19 Pandemic

web-spam-2

Since the pandemic started there has been a noticeable increase in phishing emails, scams, and different types of fraud.

Recently phishing attacks look even more like they came from a specific company. This is called “spearfishing,” and hackers might pose as your bank, credit card company, or a site like Dropbox or PayPal. Generally, targets receive an email that looks as if it came from a legitimate business. You might be prompted to click on a link to “verify account details” and from there, malware is installed on your device.

Where you once had to download a file or an app to get malware, it’s now a matter of clicking a link. These kind of fileless attacks are also more difficult to detect, as most antivirus programs only scan your hard drive.

What to Do if you receive one of these emails

  • Never click a link in an email that comes from a bank, government agency, or commercial institution. If the link comes from a company, check your account by going directly to the website by typing the URL into the navigation bar manually.
  • Check at least once a week for updates for your computer’s security software, and run scans several times a week. I personally have used Webroot for the last 8 years – it runs in the background and automatically scans for viruses. I have been very happy with it. Also Malwarebytes is a great program that removes malware and spyware.
  • If you get an unsolicited call from someone who claims to be a tech support provider for your computer or software – hang up!
  • If you get any warning message on your computer – read it carefully. Bad grammar or misspelled words are telltale signs of a false warning.
  • If you get a fake virus alert message – just shut down your browser. You can do this on a Windows PC by pressing Control-Alt-Delete and bringing up the Task Manager. On a Mac, press the Option, Command, and Esc (Escape) keys, or use the Force Quit command from the Apple menu.
  • Never allow someone who calls you out of the blue to access your computer remotely.
  • Never rely on caller ID to determine if a caller is on the level. Scammers can make it appear as if they’re calling from a legitimate number.
  • Never give your computer username or any account passwords to someone over the phone.
  • Never provide financial information to someone who calls a few days, weeks or months after you've made a tech support purchase and asks if you were satisfied — it's probably a “refund scam.” If you say “No,” the caller will ask for bank or credit card information, ostensibly to deposit a refund in your account but actually to steal from you.

The majority of the content used for this blog post was taken from a great email newsletter sent out a while back from H-Built Computers here in Sarasota. Sadly, the owner closed the business this last year to pursue his passion for video production. I really miss those guys, they built 3 different computers for me over the years and did all my IT work. They were the go-to guys I trusted my computer to when there was a problem. Heath – I hope you don’t mind me “borrowing” your newsletter content, but it was some great advice I wanted to pass along.

If you need Video Production or Graphic design and you are in the Sarasota Fl or Johnson City TN area – check out Rocket Booster. They also do Digital Marketing, SEO, Social Media Marketing and Web Development (I don’t mind giving them a plug – I know they do great work). Also check out Heath Jordan’s site.

×
Stay Informed

When you subscribe to the blog, we will send you an e-mail when there are new updates on the site so you wouldn't miss them.

Web Envy Invoice for SEO
Caroline Vance Web Design Spam Email
 

Comments

No comments made yet. Be the first to submit a comment
Already Registered? Login Here
Tuesday, 19 March 2024
Syd
07 February 2019
Internet Blog
If you got a bill from Sunshine Biz Services – It’s a SCAM! The fake invoice looks like a real bill The invoice is a fake renewal notice for annual website hosting. It shows a bill of $180 payable to ...
Syd
28 October 2019
Internet Blog
There is an email scam that seems to pop up every couple years. The sender poses as a Chinese registrar company and attempts to convince the receiver that a company is trying to register variations of...
Syd
13 April 2020
Internet Blog
Scammer's website Www.internetnetworx.netScammer's address PO Box 957268 Duluth, Georgia 30095Scammer's email contactus @ internetnetworx. netType of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill Scam artists oft...
Syd
10 January 2019
Internet Blog
"You may not know me and you are probably wondering why you are getting this e mail, right?  I’m a hacker who cracked your email and devices a few months ago." If you have received this emai...
Syd
12 April 2018
Internet Blog
A few weeks ago I received a disturbing screen shot from an upset client. A client was notified by one of their customers that while searching the internet to find the business’s phone number the cust...
Syd
23 March 2021
Internet Blog
This morning (March 23, 2021) 2 different clients of mine received a bogus invoice via FAX (Yes I said FAX) from a company called Web Envy. The invoices were for SEO/Link Building services for $98.57....
Syd
04 April 2018
Internet Blog
Over the years clients have asked about this letter, and just this last year I probably got 25 of these letters myself. If you receive a letter from iDNS – throw it in the trash. You do not have to se...
Syd
04 April 2018
Internet Blog
We can fairly quickly promote your website to the top of search rankings with no long term contracts! How many times have you seen this email? We all get them, and I get a ton of them. For example: He...
Syd
20 March 2022
Internet Blog
There are web development companies all over the world – legitimate web design companies! A lot of spam emails claim they are part of a large group of professionals from India and they want to design ...
Syd
08 August 2018
Internet Blog
Be careful of cheap online web design companies that offer "free domians". If you are dealing with an ethical web design company, and you prefer to have them manage your domain that’s fine. But be car...