Virus scams warning

Experts are warning people not to fall foul of a series of scams aimed at exploiting worries and fears around the spread and impact of coronavirus.

Off the back of reports that a series of malicious tricks have already duped the UK public out of more than £800,000, business resilience advisers at the Scottish Business Resilience Centre (SBRC) are urging the population to exercise caution.

Fraudsters are exploiting the fears of Covid-19 coronavirus by sending out emails falsely claiming to be from a reliable source, in the hope of gaining personal information and financial details, and tricking people into opening malicious attachments.

The emails are pretending to be affiliated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The scammers claim to be able to provide the recipient with a list of people in their region affected by coronavirus, should the recipient click on a link to access the information.

However, the links lead to a malicious website – or they may be asked to make a payment in Bitcoin.

Multiple victims had also attempted to purchase protective face masks from fraudulent sellers for as much as £15,000 in one case.

Although the majority of people ignore these emails, it is feared that the panic surrounding coronavirus may lead to many being drawn into the scams.

Ian Stephen, head of business resilience with the SBRC, said: “These scams are an example of how cyber criminals prey on people’s worries.

“It was a matter of time before coronavirus was used as a trigger, with scams likely to rise in numbers as the disease continues to spread.

“Don’t be complacent either. These fraudulent emails are often highly convincing, but they do present tell-tale signs about their true nature which can act as strong warning signs.

“By doing simple things such as checking the address of the email sender, or by checking the URL link before visiting the website, users can significantly reduce the risks.

“People need to ensure that they do not allow their fears to cloud their judgement online, even if something does appear legitimate, it is better to be safe than sorry.”

To update and protect devices, visit www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/ securing-your-devices

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