Fake WHO Coronavirus Awareness Emails and Scam

Cybercriminals are taking advantage of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic by sending out fake awareness emails like the one below. The fake emails ask recipients to click on a link that goes a fake or cloned WHO (World Health Organization) website. On the fake website, visitors will be asked to enter their email account credentials. But, if they do, their email account credentials will be sent to the cybercriminals behind the fake emails.

Advertisements
Fake WHO Coronavirus Awareness Emails and Scam

A Fake "WHO Coronavirus Awareness" Email

WHO Corona virus Awareness

Wed 2/5/2020 8:52 AM

From: medicasupport@who.com

Dear Sir,

Go through the attached document on safety measures regarding the spreading of corona virus.

Click on the button below to download

Safety measures

Symptoms common symptoms include fever,coughcshortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

Regards,

Dr. ##UNAME##

Specialist wuhan-virus-advisory

Althought the fake email appears as if it came from WHO, it was actually spoofed and sent from another email address being used by the cybercriminals. And, the link in the fake email goes to the following fake WHO website created by the cybercriminals:

Fake WHO World Health Organization Website

Once the cybercriminals have received the stolen credentials, they will use it to gain access to their potential victims' accounts, hijack and use them fraudulently. Therefore, online users who have been tricked by the fake WHO email are asked to change their account passwords before their accounts are hijacked.

It is recommended that online users go directly to The World Health Organization's website at https://www.who.int/ for information about the Novel Coronavirus(2019-nCoV), instead of clicking on a link in an email, which may be a link to a phishing website that steals personal information and account credentials.

Check the comment section below for additional information, share what you know, or ask a question about this article by leaving a comment below. And, to quickly find answers to your questions, use our search Search engine.

Note: Some of the information in samples on this website may have been impersonated or spoofed.

Bookmark articleSave

Was this article helpful?

Advertisements

Comments, Questions, Answers, or Reviews

Comments (Total: 7)

To protect your privacy, please remove sensitive or identifiable information from your comments, questions, or reviews. We will use your IP address to display your approximate location to other users when you make a post. That location is not enough to find you.

Your post will be set as anonymous because you are not signed in. An anonymous post cannot be edited or deleted, therefore, review it carefully before posting. Sign-in.

March 25, 2020 at 3:49 PM by
Fake WHO Coronavirus Awareness Emails and Scam
info

Received this scam

"From: Pandemic Survival <2Q2U7J12.2Q2U7J12@1vxpfb6i.us>

Date: March 23, 2020 at 10:41:27 PM PDT

Subject: Corona is not “controllable”

If you’re counting on your government to shield you from the deadly coronavirus, I have a message for you...

Don’t be silly.

They wouldn’t know how even if they tried.

Leaked private meetings between U.S. health officials tell us... they are in a panic.

Not only do they not know what to do...

They’re not really sure how many people are infected.

Reports from the United States range from 35 to 105.

They are at a loss.

But you don’t have to be.

There is 1 thing you can do...right now...to save yourself.

You have to see this => Click Here

1 thing to protect yourself from the deadly coronavirus. And I don’t mean masks (they can’t protect you if a droplet gets in your eyes).

Smallpox killed 300 million people and had a LOWER mortality rate than coronavirus.

That’s the entire population of the United States and the coronavirus is playing out a very similar pattern.

Do you realize that once one of your family members gets it you won’t be able to take care of them or even see them.

Because they could spread it to you.

Imagine not being able to hold or even touch your sick child.

Don’t let it happen to you => Click Here

P.S. That video is making WAVES on the internet. No offense, but you’re probably the last person to see it."

Delete

March 23, 2020 at 2:03 PM by
Fake WHO Coronavirus Awareness Emails and Scam
info

"QUEST TO COMBAT COVID-19

Mon 3/23/2020 12:20 AM

From: WHO - noreply@who.intt

Dear info,

Go through the attached document on safety measures regarding the spreading of CoronaVirus. Then fill the form as your company has been selected will be mobilized for the project to combat the Virus known as Covid-19.

Click on the button below to download.

Feel free to contact the regional director who will give you guidelines on the procedures below

Regards.

Dr. Jona Abba

jonab200@yandex.com

Specialist wuhan-virus-advisory"

Here is another scam.

Delete

March 22, 2020 at 10:29 PM by
Fake WHO Coronavirus Awareness Emails and Scam
info

There are hundreds of Corona scams being sent out by scammers, so ensure that you get your information from legitimate sources or news websites.

Delete

March 20, 2020 at 4:45 PM by
Fake WHO Coronavirus Awareness Emails and Scam
info

"From: Pandemic <noreplydeborahsusannah@1kbjx.daciausa.xyz>

Date: Fri, Mar 20, 2020 at 1:27 PM

Subject: Corona is not “controllable”

To: TOP MUSIC 2020 <music-de-route-6492@pages.plusgoogle.com>

When you hear about coronavirus what?s the one word that comes to mind?

For most people it?s:?helpless?.

There is no vaccine for Coronavirus.

Masks don?t protect your eyes.

And the U.S. government, like the Chinese government, isn?t telling us the truth about how many are infected.

They don?t want to cause a?panic?.

Well I don?t want you to feel?helpless? anymore.

There are things you can do to practically ELIMINATE the chance of you or your family getting the deadly Coronavirus?

This quiz will determine if you are prepared or not.

Life saving information =>

P.S. Whether you click that link could decide if you survive this very new kind of epidemic. Just thought you should know.

=>

TAKE THE QUIZ?"

Received this scam.

Delete

March 19, 2020 at 10:20 AM by
Fake WHO Coronavirus Awareness Emails and Scam
info

"From: survivecoronavirus org | deal <6K3P1XUJP.6K3P1XUJP@6k3p1xujp.us>

Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2020 at 06:35

Subject: Corona is not “controllable”

CoronaVirus Pandemic Survival Guide

Officials have confirmed that corona is spreading at an “exponential rate.”

Funny thing about stuff that is exponential.

Ever hear of the fact that if you could keep folding a paper over itself 56

times it’ll be thick enough to reach the sun?

It’s true.

The same is true of this coronavirus.

If 2 infect 4 which infect 8 which infect 16 you’ll quickly be at millions... and it’ll only take about 12 steps to get there...

Who’s going to come in to “handle” a million-person wide outbreak?

You guessed it.

The National Guard.

Well you’re lucky.

Because a National Guardsmen just broke rank with his organization and

"shared the truth about coronavirus and what you can do about it.

His life is actually in danger for sharing this information."

But it’s worth it to him if he can save yours.

Trust me. You need to see this! Click the link. It may be the click that saves your life...

Survivecoronavirus org

P.S. The guy risked his life...

The least you can do is hear him out.

Survivecoronavirus org"

Here is another scam.

Delete

March 18, 2020 at 3:35 PM by
Fake WHO Coronavirus Awareness Emails and Scam
info

Here is another email scam:

"COVID-19 Response: 5 Tips for Securing Remote Workplace

Wed 3/18/2020 3:10 PM

The outbreak of Coronavirus is a rapidly developing situation and is likely to affect many travel plans over the coming months. We strongly recommend that anyone travelling or planning to travel takes guidance from the Foreign and Commonwealth office:

https;//onlinethreatalerts.com/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-staff

The WHO's designation of coronavirus as a pandemic yesterday has significant implications for the operation of insurance policy cover and these are clearly posing unprecedented challenges.

The team have put together some advice for you based on current activities:

I am travelling to a country where there has been an outbreak?

If the WHO advise against travel to the area you are visiting then in the first instance you should contact your travel operator or medical practitioner to reschedule or ask for a protective tips. MOST REPORTED CASES SAVES LIFES.

Kindly take a break and read the attached articles on our site and futher refrences on the issue for our staff

https;//www.google.com/tips/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public

onlinethreatalerts.com Ltd. Aston Lark Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, No. 307663 and registered in

Delete

February 26, 2020 at 11:53 PM by
Fake WHO Coronavirus Awareness Emails and Scam
info

"Hello:

Wed 2/26/2020 10:42 AM

From: "FIGHT CORONA FOUNDATION WORLDWIDE" - irmc@redynet.com.ar

Hello dear how are you doing? I am Ms. Marylyne, am 56 years old from Swiss.I have a proposal to share with you please get back to me for details with my email { marylynevantelli20@gmail.com }.

Regards,

Marylyne"

Another scam.

Delete

Write Your Comment, Question, Answer, or Review

Advertisements

Online Threat Alerts Security Tips

Pay the safest way

Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.

Guard your personal information

In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.

Be careful of the information you share

Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with

Know who you’re dealing with

Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.

Check your accounts

Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.

Don’t believe promises of easy money

If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.

Do not open email from people you don’t know

If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.

Think before you click

If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.

Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond

If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.

Be careful with links and new website addresses

Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.

Secure your personal information

Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.

Stay informed on the latest cyber threats

Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.

Use Strong Passwords

Strong passwords are critical to online security.

Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs

Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.

Update the operating systems on your electronic devices

Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.

What if You Got Scammed?

Stop Contact With The Scammer

Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.

Secure Your Finances

  • Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
  • Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:

Check Your Computer

If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.

Change Your Account Passwords

Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.

Report The Scam

Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.

Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:

  • Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
  • Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
  • Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.

How To Recognize a Phishing Scam

Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.

Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:

Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might

  • say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
  • claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
  • say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
  • include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
  • want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
  • say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
  • offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real

About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)

Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.

By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.

With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.

Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.

Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).

Fake WHO Coronavirus Awareness Emails and Scam