On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed an unprecedented $2 trillion stimulus package into law. The legislation received support from both chambers of the U.S. Congress for its goal to minimize the economic effects of the global coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, reported CNN. A key component of that package was the direction to provide economic relief to Americans in the form of stimulus checks of varying amounts depending upon their income.

Digital attackers know this financial assistance is on its way, which is why various U.S. governmental entities are warning consumers and businesses to be on the lookout for scams. In early April, for instance, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) raised the alarm about phishing campaigns that could seek to steal their personal and/or tax-related information. It was just a few days later when the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) revealed that it had detected an increase of coronavirus-themed business email compromise (BEC) scams targeting municipalities.

These financial ruses, not to mention other COVID-19 ploys, will continue to prey upon users for the foreseeable future. But awareness can help to prevent people from falling victim to these schemes. That’s why we at the State of Security feel it’s necessary to stay on top of the latest scams exploiting the coronavirus. Let’s look at some attacks that recently made headlines.

Woman’s Home Raided After Lie of Neighbor’s Death

A View of Grasmere Road in Oldham. (Source: BBC News)

According to BBC News, police responded to reports of a burglary on Grasmere Road in Oldham, a town in Greater Manchester.

A 92-year-old woman suffered this burglary after she received a visit from some unexpected guests. These individuals knocked on the woman’s door and informed her that her neighbor had died of COVID-19. That was their first lie.

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