Stupid Simple Security Tip #6 – COVID-19 Vaccine Scams
The long-awaited COVID-19 vaccine is finally here.
While this milestone is significant for the health of individuals across the globe, expect to get a heavy dose of cybercrime that comes along with it.
Perhaps the most common scam related to the vaccine will be the “early access scams.”
These scams may promise early access to the vaccine in your area or may suggest you can add your name to the vaccine list. This form of early access will of course be in exchange for a fee.
Don’t buy-in. This is a scam.
Governments have alerted that there is no ability to pay for early access to the vaccine or to put your name on a list.
The scammers are just looking for you to provide your financial information and will provide no service in return.
Other common scams focus on collecting your personal and financial information when discussing the vaccine.
This scam is typically carried out via a phone call. The conversation may seem innocuous at first, with general questions, but those questions may shift towards your personal and financial information.
When the conversation turns in this direction it is best to hang up. No one from the vaccine distribution site or insurance company will be calling you for this information.
As we’ve learned before, this vaccine would be considered a hot button topic. With a peak global interest in this topic, be exceptionally cautious on social media and other websites.
Scammers will craft targeted posts and links that lead to their malicious webpages.
So, remember, you cannot pay to put your name on a vaccine list or to bump your name up on that list. Neither should you expect phone calls requesting personal and financial information.
And most importantly, spread this message to those that are most vulnerable. Inform your friends, and family, especially any elderly relatives about these scams to make sure they know to avoid them.
Cybercriminals are diligent in finding new, sophisticated methods to trick unsuspecting individuals into putting themselves at risk. Having a proactive approach is key in a robust security culture and your entire team must be active in continuous security education.
