How to spot COVID-19 scams

This year, as we adjust to the pace of life at home, we’re encouraged to use the internet as a tool to connect and engage digitally. With these considerations comes a variety of potential risks, as scammers look to take advantage of difficult circumstances across Australia — and around the world.

These concerns are supported by numbers, with ACCC-regulated body Scamwatch, reporting a spike in reported cases since the beginning of 2020, with strong ties to personal data theft.

There are a few signs to look out for when facing a potential threat that can help you identify fraud without putting your personal information or digital security at risk.

In case you missed it, here’s a blog we published earlier on how to protect yourself from scams — not only during the pandemic but on a daily basis.

Avoid opening suspicious emails and attachments

When it comes to scams, the most commonly received security threats are distributed by email.

Suspicious by name and nature, phishing scams are seemingly harmless emails that are laced with malicious intent. In most cases, they are camouflaged as regular emails, seeking personal information or login credentials for housekeeping purposes.

Keep in mind — no two phishing scams are the same. Whether it’s an online request from a legitimate business such as travel agencies and telecommunications companies, or what seems like a government organisation like the World Health Organization and the Department of Health, never respond to an email with your personal data.

If you’re unsure about the legitimacy of an email you’ve received, do your due diligence by running the message past a friend or family member. While you’re there, hover over any potential links to ensure that the intended URL is not deceptive or misleading.

Still not sure? Contact the business that’s being impersonated directly, just to be sure, using the contact details listed on their official website.

SMS

Despite the rise of scams by email, communication relating to fake virus vaccines are also being shared by text message.

Although they are more difficult to identify — look for inconsistencies like references to an attachment, poorly worded sentences and tracking numbers for items you aren’t expecting.

Much like anything that looks suspicious, it’s important to carefully navigate through the text, avoiding prompts that could open your web browser, such as links or embedded websites.

Make sure you block suspicious numbers that have contacted you, as in most cases, it’ll likely put you in direct contact with the potential scammer. Apple users can do this by following these steps. Meanwhile, Android users can block unwanted contact here.

If you’re still not sure, it might be best to reach out to the company you think is being impersonated directly — through verified social media accounts or their website.

Scam calls

Scammers will take any and every opportunity when it comes to broadening their potential reach.

This means that their prospective contact can also come through the phone. In most cases contact is made through a person calling to elicit personal details, to steal money or conduct identity theft, or both. They often use pushy high-pressure sales tactics to bully you into handing over what they ask for, many times impersonating entities claiming to be the World Health Organisation or even government authorities.

If you are unsure about the motive when receiving a call, the quickest (and safest) solution is to simply hang up the phone, and call the organisation back on their publicly listed number, search online for the public website.

The caller can also present themselves as a recorded message, often with threatening tones to try and get you to stay on the line, to be transferred to a human scammer or call another number. The best remedy here is to hang up immediately on these calls. If they are calling your mobile repeatedly, and if there is caller ID, you might consider blocking that incoming phone number as well to stop such calls.

Fact-check information before purchasing

As social distancing becomes a major factor in our day-to-day lives, many people are choosing to avoid brick and mortar stores by shopping online.

Making purchases from the comfort of your home comes with a unique set of challenges, especially when stocks are low — and demand is high. From groceries to common goods, and everything in between, it pays to be careful when shopping.

There’s always going to be a pathway to potential scammers, especially during a global crisis. To avoid getting caught, it’s important to be aware of the risks that come with looking for the best deal, and most value for your dollar.

If you’ve received what looks like a special offer, think twice about the legitimacy of the product. Start by doing your research independently, unless you’re already familiar with the service do not buy any products that claim to prevent or cure you of COVID-19.

Other red flags include random payment methods such as a money order, a digital currency like BitCoin or an international bank transfer.

Donations and charities

In difficult times, supporting those in need of a lending hand is always encouraged.

Charitable causes can be supported in a variety of ways — including television, social media and more recently, crowdfunding platforms. Although these initiatives empower peer-to-peer assistance through mutual friends, the legitimacy and terms of any potential campaigns should still be double-checked.

Before donating — it’s encouraged that you do your research, even if it’s as simple as reading the terms and conditions. In some instances, funds can be handled by third parties, which can increase the risk for all parties involved.

In instances where donations are made to a charity directly, it’s advised to cross-reference the organisation with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Charity Register.

No fake news — reputable sources only

In a heavily saturated news landscape, it’s never been more important to acquire information from reliable resources.

As simple as it may sound, avoiding clickbait articles that have been posted throughout social media is the easiest way to prevent contamination.

Credible news outlets will have plenty of advertisements from recognisable brands embedded within their content. This means that any potential advertisements that draw your interest are safe to click on, minimising the risk, and giving you peace of mind.

Despite this, hackers may still attempt to access your information. By avoiding fake ads on like-minded illegitimate websites, the chances of compromising your data are significantly decreased.

What to do if you believe you’ve been contacted by a potential scammer?

Stop. Take notes. Report.

Don’t provide any details, or any further information if you’ve already provided something.

If you think you’ve received a scam call, write down notes with as much detail about the interaction as possible while still fresh in your memory. No detail is too small or obscure or common sense to leave out if you remember something.

It’s important to report the contact to your service provider to confirm the contact or alert them to scammer activity happening. You can also report the matter to the authorities such as the police, the Australian Cyber Security Centre, or IDCARE — a not-for-profit national identity and cyber support service can help you respond to your specific situation.

Stay in the loop for warnings and updates

To make sure all information you’re receiving is valid and up-to-date, head to the COVID-19 information hub, hosted by the ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission).

The page acts as a go-to guide for consumer rights, travel and event cancellations pertaining to the virus. Due to the real-time nature, updates are made when new information is made available.

It’s understandable to want updates as they’re made available. For the most relevant and up-to-date information, head over to the Department of Health or the World Health Organization pages directly.

The Federal Government has launched the Coronavirus Australia app providing up-to-date information and is now available on both Apple App Store or Google Play.

Belong is Australia’s first carbon neutral mobile and internet provider. Explore our plans.

Find out your estimated CO2 impact from your mobile data usage by downloading the Carbon Thumbprint app.