Cyber Security Awareness Month

COMMON INTERNET SCAMS

As technology continues to evolve, cybercriminals will use more sophisticated techniques to exploit technology to steal your identity, personal information, and money. To protect yourself from online threats, you must know what to look for. Some of the most common Internet scams include:

• COVID-19 Scams take the form of emails with malicious attachments or links to fraudulent websites to
trick victims into revealing sensitive information or donating to fraudulent charities or causes. Exercise
caution in handling any email with a COVID-19-related subject line, attachment, or hyperlink, and be wary
of social media pleas, texts, or calls related to COVID-19.

• Imposter Scams occur when you receive an email or call from a person claiming to be a government
official, family member, or friend requesting personal or financial information. For example, an imposter
may contact you from the Social Security Administration informing you that your Social Security number
(SSN) has been suspended, in hopes you will reveal your SSN or pay to have it reactivated.

• COVID-19 Economic Payments scams target Americans’ stimulus payments. CISA urges all Americans to be
on the lookout for criminal fraud related to COVID-19 economic impact payments—particularly fraud using
coronavirus lures to steal personal and financial information, as well as the economic impact payments
themselves—and for adversaries seeking to disrupt payment efforts.

Disclaimer: Information retrieved from www.cisa.gov/ncsam, visit their website for more information.