WHO warns on cyber scammers taking advantage of Coronavirus disease and gives guidelines on avoiding the scams.
WHO is the international body that directs and coordinates health in the United Nations System. They strive to combat diseases across the world. The body is currently regulating the coronavirus, which is the most recent global pandemic. World Health Organization faces many challenges in regulating the disease’s spread due to many misinformation in social media. Health ministries of various countries face the problem with their citizens who do not follow the WHO recommendations to contain the disease.
The pandemic has brought with it an opportunity for cyber hackers to steal money from innocent people.
Cyber scammers are pretending to be officials from WHO. It made the WHO raise a red flag to the nations to be aware of such criminal activities. According to WHO, the hackers send fraudulent links, emails, or watt Sapp messages to people. When one clicks on such links, their data are exposed to the attackers, which they use to still the money from people’s accounts.
They may also send fake attachment files that target billions of internet users to try to get access to their data. Some of your private data that can be revealed to the hackers when you click the malicious links include your password, username, location, address, among other sensitive information.
I experienced the same issue of fraudulent email a few months ago. It was very worrying and terrifying.
The scam email threatened me that my email had been hacked. The scammers gave me 48 hours to send some specified amount of money or else, and they would expose all my data to the public. Good enough, I searched about the issue and found that I was not alone who had received the scam email. I just ignored it and never clicked the link they sent in the malicious email. Thanks to online reviews! It was of great help.
Below is one example of scam emails that have been in circulation for a while, and you should not be terrified like me when you get them. Just ignore and don’t click any link!
Above is just one of the examples of scams. However, there are several ones with different tactics, and so you should be vigilant.
Going back to the WHO warning on scams, various red flags can help you know that the email is a scam. According to WHO, if you receive any of the following messages or emails, you should know that they are scammers.
- A message with an unsolicited attachment is a scam.
- The website or email asks you for money to get a job.
- You are asked for your password or username.
- The website or the adds that offer you prizes or grants
- If you are asked for a certificate or other confidential identity documents, then that is a scam.
- Emails that deceive you into registering and booking for a conference or reserve a restaurant for a charge.
WHO advises you to be alert on any link or attachment that has any of their references? Also, the global health organization does not offer any grant or donation. Therefore, if you come across links that deceive you with such benefits, it will be a scam.
Ways through which the hackers use to promote their spams
The hackers can use emails, websites, fax messages, Wattsapp messages, Text messages, and phone calls.
How you can know legit information from WHO
You can confirm the legitimacy of information from WHO by contacting them. You can contact WHO through either Contact WHO or Report a scam.
Ways through which the hackers use to promote their spams
The hackers can use emails, websites, fax messages, Wattsapp messages, Text messages, and phone calls. According to WHO, hackers use malicious emails and messages pretending to be from WHO.
Phishing Emails.
WHO came to know that there are fraudulent actions from attackers who use malicious emails referred to as phishing. The emails pretend to come from WHO, and they will deceive novel online users to do some actions that will leak their crucial data. The scams may deceive you to ;
- Click a fraudulent link.
- Give password or usernames
- Open fake attachments that are malicious
- Send some documents
When you give the above sensitive details or click such malicious attachments, the attackers will have a chance to install a virus in your device to still your data.
WHO legit email domain
The best way to avoid phishing emails is to avoid email addresses that are not in the order of ‘person@who.int’. You should know that the scammers use other email addresses like ‘person@who.org or ‘….@who-safety.com’ or ‘…@who.org.’ If you receive an email format in the list above, then be aware it is a scam. However, it does not imply that any email that ends in ‘..@who.int comes from WHO. Some attackers can still find a way of using the right email domain. To improve security, which has started to implement domain-based Message Authentification, Reporting, and Conference (DMARC).
How to Avoid malicious emails
- Check on the attachments and links before clicking on them
WHO advises you to fast check on the legitimacy of any link sent to you. To avoid any dought, you can visit the organization’s official website to validate the information received.
- Do not give any personal information.
You should not provide any sensitive information upon any request—first probe why the information is needed and if necessary. Moreover, information details on a password or username must not be given out.
- Check the email address domain.
As said earlier, WHO uses the email domain that ends in ‘…@who.int.’ Any other email domain is a scam. However, it would help if you were cautious since other hackers can forge the legit email domain. Again, you are always advised to visit the official website if in doubt.
- Scams about Covid 19 Solidarity Response Fund
Be aware that hackers use covid 19 response fund to meet their malicious goals. When you receive such advertisements, do not rash to click on them. It is advisable to take a moment to decide and check whether the request is legitimate. You may be deceived, and with your sympathy, you assist someone who is in criminal activity. Do not be too fast to give!
- Use strong passwords and use Google’s advanced security features.
If you may have given out your sensitive information, you can change your password and manage your sites through your email account. For instance, double verification using your phone number and email verification. You can also monitor suspicious activities with your account and make recommended changes accordingly.
- Report any scam
Suppose you come across to any scam, report to them to WHO for immediate action. By reporting the spam, you will protect many innocent people who may fall victim to the hackers’ suspicious activity.
Bottom line.
Coronavirus pandemic has given an advantage to cyber hackers who pretend to be coming from WHO to steal from people online. Be aware that, WHO committed to regulating the covid 19 pandemics. In doing so, WHO
- NEVER give out donations or grants due to the pandemic
- NEVER ask for your password
- NEVER ask for charge fee for conferences, book hotels or jobs
- NEVER conduct adds with gifts, prizes or lotteries