4 Tips For Online Safety In Our “New World”

During our current time of crisis such there is generally an outpouring of support from people in all areas of the world as people come together to do their part in the fight against COVID-19. As with all things however, there is always a small percentage of people looking to take advantage of these trying times. Here are four tips to avoid these unscrupulous ‘businessmen’.

1. Know which sources are reliable  – As research progresses and developments are made into what can combat the effects of COVID-19 and help keep you and your family safe, they will first be published in trusted sources such as the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), or scholarly resources like John Hopkins University. It is imperative you check the links of any URLs before you click it to ensure it is legitimate. Many hackers and cyber criminals are intentionally developing new websites to appear very similar in look and in URL structure to these trusted sources, hoping an unsuspecting person will fall victim to their scheme and click on their link where they can wreak havoc on your computer and steal your data. Make sure the domain of the URLs you are clicking on are trustworthy, such as .org, .int, .gov and .edu.
   If a product is listed as a ‘cure’ or ‘treatment’, be wary. Unless there is information that supports this on one of our trusted sites above, this is likely a false claim and can lead you down dangerous paths of either purchasing said “treatments” or leaving you open to not fully protecting yourself, your family and people around you.
2. Be wary of price gouging – People without your best interest in mind may try and take advantage of the high demand for things such as face masks and hand sanitizer by selling them at drastic markups. Be aware of what things usually cost and use that to make a judgement call on whether or not the seller is price gouging. In many scenarios it is better to buy from trusted resources and stores instead of individual sellers on platforms such as eBay. This will help alleviate the possibility of price gouging, ensure you are not getting counterfeit items and so that your payments are made using a secure and protected method.
3. Stay aware of general scam tactics – With the announcement of the economic stimulus package, there has been a rise in attempts by scammers to gain access to personal information. The IRS will not call you and ask you for any information. If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, this is a scam. Be sure you are up to speed on phishing tactics as well in order to prevent yourself from becoming a victim. Make sure you hover over links and verify they are legitimate before you click them. Also be sure to click or tap on an email’s sender information to confirm it came from a legitimate email address. The best course of action is to wait until the IRS releases instructions on their website https://www.irs.gov/ before doing anything related to the stimulus package and use it from reputable places of business once you get it.
4. Utilize Amazon’s review and report system – As the general populace transitions to working from home, Amazon’s delivery system has become more vital than ever. If you spot an Amazon seller using dishonest tactics to sell their product or marking up their prices, report them to Amazon. During a time such as this, it is important that scammers trying to take advantage of desperate and scared people online are stopped before they can claim even one victim. Amazon has a guide with steps on how to report a seller. Don’t let them get away with selling hand sanitizer and other medical support devices for extreme prices.

Stay safe, stay at home. Now more than ever is a better time to educate yourself on the ways dishonest individuals can take advantage of yourself and others online. Educate the people around you and help flatten the curve.

If you would like to discuss these ways of staying safe or others in more depth, please contact us.