NCSC warns of COVID-19 scams on cyberspace
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| An example of cyber scammers. |
According to NCSC, cyber scammers often pretend to be workers for domestic or international health organizations such as the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, or the World Health Organization to send emails with attachments or links “updating” the COVID-19 infection situation to victims.
Clicking on potential phishing scams gives scammers the opportunity to peer into victim’s personal information, then steal bank accounts and attack victim’s computer with malicious codes.
Cyber scammers also use social networks and online forums to promote and sell fake COVID-19 vaccines or unproven COVID-19 medicines. Some pretend to have treated COVID-19 patients who are the victim’s friends or relatives, and asked the victim to pay the treatment fees.
Scammers also set up websites selling medical supplies such as medical masks and hand sanitizer. However, after receiving payment from the victims, the fraud immediately disappear without delivering the goods as ordered.
Additionally, they impersonated big brands, sending online links about gifts, prizes, and the like in order to access the systems of businesses and organizations. Scammers also persuade victims to donate money to a fraudulent COVID-19 charity fund.
In order to protect the interests of the citizens, NCSC asked Internet users to send suspected links or report suspected online scams to http://canhbao.ncsc.gov.vn for advice and handling.
