Be Wary of COVID-19 Scams

The University recommends that individuals remain vigilant for scams related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Cyber actors may send email with malicious attachments or links to fraudulent websites to trick victims into revealing sensitive information or donating to fraudulent charities or causes.

For tips on how to identify and avoid being a victim please refer  to https://techservices.illinois.edu/security/what-phishing

Please use caution when you encounter an email with a COVID-19-related subject line, attachment, or link. Be wary of social media pleas, texts, or calls related to COVID-19.

To reduce the chances of falling victim to one of these approaches, please take the following precautions:

• Learn about existing known scams. https://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/current-activity/2020/03/06/defending-against-covid-19-cyber-scams

• Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited texts or emails and be suspicious of email attachments.

• Use trusted sources—such as legitimate, government websites—factual information related to COVID-19.

• Never reveal personal or financial information via email. When in doubt, make a phone call to verify an email’s legitimacy.

• Verify a charity’s authenticity before donating. The Federal Trade Commission’s page on Charity Scams has additional information