Phishing email scams have been around for a very long time, but the fraudsters who send them often use current events such as COVID-19 to make them appear genuine.
Latest phishing COVID-19 phishing scams include:
- Emails that encourage recipients to provide their bank details in order to receive coronavirus related Government payments
- Emails designed to look like they have been sent from the NHS or other Government bodies. These emails might falsely claim to link to a list of coronavirus cases in your area
- Emails that offer purported medical advice, tests or treatments to help protect you against the coronavirus.
- Emails targeted at businesses and specifically those working from home. These scam emails may appear to come from the company IT department or personnel department and contain fake policy document attachments which the recipient is asked to download and read
- Scammers are also seeking to exploit the increasing use of online communication platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft teams by sending out phishing emails carrying these platforms names.
Phishing emails sent by scammers will typically contain links to scam websites or virus laden attachments. Following links in suspicious emails or opening or downloading attachments may increase the recipient’s exposure to malicious websites, computer viruses, spamware and ransomware.
Report/forward phishing email scams to: report@phishing.gov.uk