News Brief

Employers: Be Aware of COVID-Related Email Scams

With an unprecedented number of Americans working from home as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, employers have become increasingly aware of a new threat—cyber criminals seeking to capitalize on COVID-19.

Cyber scammers will pose as charities or legitimate websites to lure victims into sending money, revealing personal information, or unwittingly disclosing sensitive data that could compromise their employer’s security.

In fact, crimes of this nature have compelled the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) – part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – to warn individuals about scams related to COVID-19, and to be vigilant in preventing them. CISA urges individuals to scrutinize any email, text or social media post related to COVID-19, and to be cautious when clicking any links or attachments. Additional guidelines include:

• Only use trusted sources when looking for factual information on COVID-19, such as gov
• Never provide personal, financial or work-sensitive information via email, even if the sender seems legitimate
• Verify a charity’s authenticity before making any donations
• Avoid clicking links from unsolicited emails, and be wary of email attachments 

It’s not always easy to disregard messages from senders that seem reputable, like banks or other institutions. If individuals have any doubts about an email from a seemingly legitimate source, they should navigate to the organization’s website and use the contact information there to reach out. Individuals should never respond to the initial message.

What Can Employers Do?

In addition to notifying employees about the existence of these COVID-19 cyber scams, employers should communicate best practices to their employees so they know how to respond to such solicitations.

It will also benefit employers to regularly back up their data and bolster network protections as needed, just in case the wrong link is clicked and the network compromised.

We’re Ready to Lend a Hand

You can always count on VTC Insurance Group to help protect your business. From quality insurance solutions to friendly tips for preventing cyber crimes, we’re proud to offer expert guidance and advice. To contact a VTC Insurance Group agent near you, give us a call, or visit vtcins.com.

The above content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice.