COVID-19 scams
I think we can all agree that taking advantage of a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic is awful and beyond imagination, however, scammers see it as a perfect opportunity to exploit this weak point.
“During this pandemic we have seen criminals using sophisticated methods to callously exploit people’s financial concerns to trick them into giving away their money or information,” said Katy Worobec, managing director of economic crime at UK Finance.
The most popular COVID-19 related scams come in the form of messages from a Facebook friend who asks you for money because he has supposedly been infected or highly affected by the virus
Moreover, scammers often use copycat accounts, with real photos and information making you believe that one of your close friends really need your help, and once you transfer them the money, they disappear completely without a trace. Additionally, scammers can also pretend to be health organizations that ask for your personal information or promise a miracle vaccine at a low price.
“Criminals are impersonating trusted organizations like the CDC or the IRS to trick people,” said Katy.
They take advantage of the fear and misinformation regarding this novel virus and want to make money out of it. That’s why is so important to always double-check the accounts that message you, the websites you visit, and the organizations that call before giving you personal information, click links or give them money. Moreover, pay close attention to weird typos or wording which can expose a scammer.
Facebook posts meant to elicit a powerful emotional reaction
One newer scam that is now quite ‘popular’ on Facebook right now is known as the “like-farming scam.” According to the Better Business Bureau, scammers are using Facebook posts which are meant to trigger a strong emotional reaction in those who read or see it.
They use various methods you wouldn’t even think could be scams. Firstly, you can spot a scammer when someone pretends to sell or offer products for just “likes, comments and shares” instead of money. Secondly, others post heart-warming photos or texts meant to be shared by their audience.
You probably wonder, how can they take my money if I like or share a post? Most of the time, these kinds of posts have associated links that could possibly put malware on your computer or phone, or asking for your personal information (credit card details or social security numbers) if you want to receive your prize.
Nevertheless, if a post requires sharing your personal information, make sure you double-check to see if it’s legitimate, and if things seem strange, just say no and report the problem.
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