Fraudsters often take advantage of crisis situations to steal sensitive personal information. Be wary of emails containing unsolicited COVID-19 updates or "cures." Never click on a suspicious-looking link. Research charitable organizations before donating. Keep an eye out for phishing attempts, such as messages that come from unknown senders, contain mistakes, or have urgent or unexpected requests.
Cybercriminals are always on the lookout for ways they can scam victims, and pandemics create an ideal climate for fraud. At Allstate Identity Protection, we believe knowledge is key to protecting your data. With that in mind, here’s a look at some of the coronavirus-themed attacks that are circulating, plus a primer on the hallmarks of phishing and the Allstate Identity Protection features that can help.
Be wary of emails offering unsolicited COVID-19 updates or coronavirus “cures”
The promise of a cure can seem like a blessing in an anxious time. If such an offer lands in your inbox, though, be wary.
Security experts have also documented phishing campaigns from attackers posing as the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
These fraudulent emails may be infected with malware designed to capture keystrokes, credentials, or payment information. Any unsolicited email about the health crisis should be met with healthy skepticism. When in doubt, do a quick gut-check. Would you really find out about a scientific breakthrough from a random email?
Other emerging scams may hinge on bogus coronavirus-related “charities.” Before making a charitable contribution, consider the FTC’s tips for donating wisely, including the following:
Before giving, search the organization’s name, plus words like “scam” or “complaint”
Do not wire money to a charity; pay by check or credit card
Use these organizations to help you research charities
Understand the hallmarks of phishing
Phishing scams are likely to continue as the coronavirus story unfolds. The good news is that with a little practice, the hallmarks of phishing are easily recognizable:
Blurry images
Frequent typos
Misspelled URLs (hover your mouse over a link to read the full address)
Urgent requests to “act now” or send money
Urgent requests to enter log-in credentials to unlock your account
In addition, it’s generally smart to avoid emails from unknown senders and to be wary of unexpected requests for credentials or payment.
If you’re an Allstate Identity Protection member, use our features to up your defenses
In times of uncertainty, people are historically more vulnerable to schemes, and the coronavirus outbreak is no exception. Luckily, there are a few things Allstate Identity Protection members can do right away to help protect themselves.
If you haven’t yet done so, enable Credit Monitoring. It only takes a few moments, and it will allow us to track your credit report and score for suspicious behavior.
Add important items, like credit card numbers, to our Dark Web Monitoring tool. We'll scour the dark corners of the internet for your details, and alert you if we find your information for sale.
Think you might be a victim of fraud or identity theft? Our highly trained Restoration Specialists are available round-the-clock to help with remediation — and our advanced planning ensures they’ll be around in times of crisis.
We know times like this can be challenging; just remember that Allstate Identity Protection is always here for you.
