Brief Seven - Exploiting a News Story
Feeding on Your Fears
As the Coronavirus pandemic sweeps the world, citizens are bound to their homes by law, and many are kept there by fear. An aggressive virus that is spread by person to person contact is enough to keep anyone trapped in their homes and glued to the TV to catch the next breaking news. As fear floods the minds of many during these trying times, scammers are taking advantage. Criminals are exploiting the coronavirus pandemic for their own personal gain. Telemarketers, virus emails, and scams are swarming the lives of thousands during these trying times.
As this virus affects the respiratory system, underlying conditions can cause further complications. With these added worries, many are on the hunt for preventative measures as a cure, or vaccine has not been found. Scammers have taken advantage of this situation and have taken to the internet to sell "health supplements" that combat the Coronavirus. For example, Vivify Holistic Clinic was marketing its drugs to the public as a way to combat the virus, and the FDA fought back. The Food and Drug Administration is working diligently to seek these fraudulent companies and get them off their market to protect the public.
As the Coronavirus pandemic sweeps the world, citizens are bound to their homes by law, and many are kept there by fear. An aggressive virus that is spread by person to person contact is enough to keep anyone trapped in their homes and glued to the TV to catch the next breaking news. As fear floods the minds of many during these trying times, scammers are taking advantage. Criminals are exploiting the coronavirus pandemic for their own personal gain. Telemarketers, virus emails, and scams are swarming the lives of thousands during these trying times.
As this virus affects the respiratory system, underlying conditions can cause further complications. With these added worries, many are on the hunt for preventative measures as a cure, or vaccine has not been found. Scammers have taken advantage of this situation and have taken to the internet to sell "health supplements" that combat the Coronavirus. For example, Vivify Holistic Clinic was marketing its drugs to the public as a way to combat the virus, and the FDA fought back. The Food and Drug Administration is working diligently to seek these fraudulent companies and get them off their market to protect the public.
Another way these scammers are exploiting the Coronavirus for their own personal gain is bogus emails and documents that, when opened, reveal bank documents and other personal information. One example of a situation such as this arose in New York. A text message reading, "Someone who came in contact with you has tested positive or has shown symptoms for COVID-19 and recommends you self isolate/get tested", is hitting the phones of many with a link attached to learn more information. DO NOT CLICK ON THE LINK! If a bogus link is opened, you're virtually opening your front door to a burglar and ending up in some serious trouble. In order to avoid a run-in with an internet scammer, look out for the signs. Many of these messages come from suspicious addresses, have misspellings, and include suspicious attachments such as a link or video.
The Coronavirus moves fast and infects the majority as it makes its way across the world. The rapid spread sends many ducking for cover and states calling for stay at home orders. With many living in fear of the unknown and fear of the virus, scammers have a feeding frenzy, sending suspicious messages and selling bogus health supplements. The best advice I can give you is to play the defensive, any messages from unknown numbers or weird off-brand supplements are most likely a scam at any time, but especially during a pandemic. DON'T BUY ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULDN'T NORMALLY BUY AND DO NOT OPEN THOSE SUSPICIOUS TEXT MESSAGES!
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