Corona virus: Watch out for these fake news and scams

Cybercrime abuse pandemic

Criminals are currently using the fear of corona viruses to scam online and offline. On this overview page, we will provide you with the latest information on all fake news, phishing attacks and other fraud related to Corona Virus.

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table of Contents

1. Fake news and chain letters
   

2. Fake shop
   

3. Ransomware
   

4. Phishing email
   

On Netzwelt, we warn you of various scams every day. Corona viruses are increasingly used by criminals to make your money easier. For example, the Berlin police warned fake employees of the health department that they used an excuse for corona testing to enter the apartment. The virus is also used online for various evasion activities. On this special page, we keep you up to date with fraud involving corona virus:

Fake news and chain letters

The Internet is a place full of information, but, unfortunately, incorrect information is often spread here, including corona viruses. WhatsApp is currently processing a series of chain letters containing misinformation about the corona virus. Another message linking the use of painkillers to the virus was originally called fake news, but apparently contained a spark of truth. Because coronavirus information changes rapidly, you should get the latest information from a reputable source. We recommend the following:

With fake news and chain letters, most senders are not directly harmed. Instead, these messages can upset you and others. On the other hand, the following scams have a greater personal impact on you and sometimes cause serious financial losses.

Fake shop

Due to the corona crisis, retail businesses nationwide have closed. You can only shop online. But at Amazon, many products are already rare-especially disinfectants and breathing masks. Cybercriminals recognize the opportunity here to add cream and set up so-called fake shops, assuring you mouth-watering items at fair prices. However, if you order here, you will never receive the goods after payment. The money is gone. We already know the following Corona counterfeit stores:

But new fake shops have sprung up. Since we can't keep up with the corresponding warning message, we will show you in the video below how to identify fake stores and shop safely online.

Ransomware

Corona virus has made headlines for weeks. It is understandable to keep abreast of transmission, mortality and other useful information. But pay attention here. The ransomware "CovidLock" is currently disguised as a map that can spread the Corona virus in real time. However, the software does not provide an overview of the number of people infected worldwide, but instead encrypts your data and demands a ransom. If you want to stay informed about the spread of coronavirus, you should use the following cards:

Phishing email

Another popular scam for cybercriminals is using current events to conduct phishing attacks. This is to urge users to disclose personal data or even login data. These passwords are then sometimes resold to Darknet or used for identity theft. Here are phishing messages about the corona virus:

Of course, the list is not exhaustive. Cybercriminals often change the text of emails quickly, or target customers at another bank or another company. So below we will tell you how to identify Phishihg email.

This way you can identify every phishing email

The first sign that you have received a phishing email: As part of the email, you will be asked to confirm your personal data or enter it into a website. This one Under no circumstances should you comply. In addition, criminals often use the official logo of the company they copied in emails instead of the official sender address.

If the sender is suspicious, you should read the email twice. Often, you will also find spelling errors or inconsistencies in German grammar. Attackers often don't write their own messages, but instead use known auto-generated messages or translators to translate known messages.

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