COVID-19: Be Wary of Cyber Criminals Seeking to Steal Your Username and Password

Published on August 23, 2020

Exploiting the Coronavirus: Deactivating Your Email

Cyber scammers are trying to take advantage of the COVID pandemic by tricking Morris County residents into divulging their email username and password, warns the Morris County Office of Information Technology.(JPG, 12KB)

Cybercriminals rely on trickery and emotional reactions to bypass your security. A recent phishing email is a great example of how the bad guys try to catch you off guard.

These deceptive emails have a generic subject lines, such as COVID-19 Notification, and include many grammatical errors. The message claims, The pandemic has become a global issue and we'll be deactivating your email for server propagation.

Propagation usually refers to making a change to a web domain, like changing the name of a website or moving it to a different server. You may be wondering how those two subjects are related, but the sender doesn't clarify. Instead the scammers direct you to confirm non-removal of your email by clicking the link provided. Do Not Click the Link!

The link in these emails leads to a phony login page that collects your username and password and delivers it to the ther wrong person. Don't fall for it!

Here's how to stay sharp:

• Remember to think before you click. This email is both confusing and urgent, which could lead to impulsive clicks.
• Be wary of emails with spelling or grammatical errors, especially when they supposedly come from a reputable source.
• Never click on a link or an attachment that you are not expecting. Even if it appears to be from someone in your own organization, the sender's email address could be spoofed.

Stop Look Think - Don't be fooled.

Get more information on COVID-19 scams from the Federal Trade Commission: https://www.ftc.gov/coronavirus/scams-consumer-advice