Several government agencies and our Phishing vendor are issuing warnings for us to remain vigilant for scams related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Cyber actors are taking advantage of the situation and sending emails with malicious attachments or links to fraudulent websites to trick victims into revealing sensitive information or donating to fraudulent charities or causes. Exercise caution in handling any email with a COVID-19-related subject line, attachment, or hyperlink, and be wary of social media pleas, texts, or calls related to COVID-19, and encourage your customers and family to do the same.

As always, you can take the following precautions to avoid being a victim:

• Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails and be wary of email attachments. Verify email recipients, and remember that any email instructions from customers, especially regarding the movement of money need to be verified with a phone call to the customer’s number  that we have on file.
• Use trusted sources—such as legitimate, government websites, such as the CDC for up-to-date, fact-based information about COVID-19.
• Do not reveal personal or financial information in email, and do not respond to email solicitations for this information.
• Verify a charity’s authenticity before making donations. Review the Federal Trade Commission’s page on charity scams for more information.

Additionally, you may wish to check out this article from the American Bankers Association:

Tips to Avoid Coronavirus Scams and Protect Your Money

We hope the above information is helpful to protect you from fraudsters!