It used to be that criminals went down to 7 Eleven with a gun and robbed the place. These days, they just go on their computers to rob you. It has become so common that it’s scary. I have a friend in Colorado whose law firm website was hacked by ransomware. They paid $120,000.00 to get their computers back.
Crooks send emails that are so real looking that it is scary. By all means, be extremely careful before clicking on any links that come in an email. The worst scenario is the situation where people call you on the phone and they convince you that to let them log into your computer remotely. In these situations, they can access your bank account and drain your accounts.
A lot of scams involve Covid 19. Common types of COVID-19 scams include:
- Fake health organizations. Scammers pose as health authorities like the World Health Organization (WHO) and U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to offer cures, tests, or other COVID-19 information.
- Websites that sell fake products. These sites offer face masks, hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and other high-demand products that never arrive. Buy products from known marketers only.
- Bogus government sources. These scammers claim to issue updates and payments on behalf of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or local tax authority.
- Fraudulent financial offers. Scammers may pose as banks, debt collectors, or investors with offers designed to steal your financial information.
- Fake nonprofit donation requests. Many people like to donate to charitable causes to help with disaster relief. This provides an excellent opportunity for scammers to set up fake nonprofits, hospitals, and other organizations to collect funds. Donate directly through a reputable nonprofit’s website instead of clicking on a link you receive by email or text.
Alexander Truluck focuses his practice as a criminal defense attorney in Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Largo, Dunedin and the Tampa Bay area.
For more information, visit our website at http://www.criminallawyerclearwaterflorida.com
or call (727) 799-3550.