As governments around the globe mobilize to defend their
populations from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), criminals are also
mobilizing — to fleece people. These opportunists have already found ways to
use the fear and chaos associated with the pandemic to enrich themselves. But
you can protect yourself and your business.

Ripe opportunity

Phishing emails that promise valuable information about the
virus have been circulating for weeks. Fake COVID-19 websites loaded with
malware have also popped up everywhere. And as many Americans start working
from home, often on vulnerable home networks and devices that lack the latest
security updates, hacking incidents are becoming more common.

The federal government’s plan to send checks to Americans to
help boost the economy will almost certainly bring scammers out in force. The
Federal Trade Commission has already warned that crooks may try to convince
people they must pay a fee to receive their checks from the government — which
isn’t true.

Best practices

So how do you protect yourself or your business in these
troubled times? Here are a few essentials:

Let phone calls go to voicemail. The best
way to fight off phone scammers is to not answer the phone if you don’t
recognize the number. But if you do answer, be wary of anyone making promises
about, for example, interest-free loans or mortgage payment forbearance. If you
need financial help, contact government agencies, charities and
financial-service providers directly.

Keep your inbox clean. Along the
same lines, exercise caution when opening emails, particularly if you don’t
recognize the sender’s name. (Keep in mind, however, that hackers can hijack a
friend’s account and send malicious emails to you in that person’s name.) Right
now, scammers are likely to use enticing subject lines such as “Cure for
COVID-19” or “Make big $$$ working from home.” If you open one of these emails
by mistake, don’t click on any links or attachments.

Beware of charity fraud. Charity
schemes are a time-tested method for stealing money from generous individuals
and companies that just want to help. While you’re encouraged to donate money
to organizations fighting COVID-19 and assisting its victims, give only to
reputable charities you know. If you aren’t familiar with a nonprofit, ask for
its tax ID number and verify it with the IRS. You’re also encouraged to
research the organization on watchdog sites such as Charitynavigator.com and
Charitywatch.com.

Just say “no”

Most Americans are
pulling together to fight COVID-19. However, some criminals view the pandemic
as an opportunity to profit, so you need to maintain healthy skepticism. If you’re
suspicious, hang up, delete or just say “no.”