Resources

{ Banner Image } Print PDF
Share
Subscribe to Publications

People

Services

Cyber-Attacks On The Rise: COVID-19 Scams to Watch Out For

March 26, 2020

As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds, we are witnessing countless stories of courageous men and women rising up to face the challenges and obstacles of this crisis. Unfortunately, crisis also presents opportunity for unscrupulous individuals to take on less-noble pursuits. During the ongoing pandemic, businesses and individuals should be wary of social engineering cyber-attacks designed to exploit confusion and anxiety in this especially stressful time. The following examples illustrate some of the scams deployed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic:

The best practices for guarding against these kinds of attacks aren’t necessarily new or novel, but they are worth repeating. Be wary of things that seem too good to be true. Don’t click on links in unexpected emails or open attachments before verifying the source. Do research before making donations online. Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and call friends, relatives, or colleagues if you receive an unexpected communication asking for an unusual favor. Alert your organization’s IT department or the appropriate authorities to potential attacks. Be particularly careful when using personal devices to access work networks. And keep web meetings private or restrict attendees’ sharing abilities.

This is part of a series of Miller Canfield COVID-19 alerts providing clients with practical advice on measures they can take to navigate through these challenging times. For more legal advice and support, contact Miller Canfield’s Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Team or any of the authors of this alert.

This information is based on the facts and guidance available at the time of publication, and may be subject to change.  

Necessary Cookies

Necessary cookies enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility. You may disable these by changing your browser settings, but this may affect how the website functions.

Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies help us improve our website by collecting and reporting information on its usage. We access and process information from these cookies at an aggregate level.