Within the past seven months, businesses across the world have experienced various hardships that have forced them to the brink of closure or exposed various weak points that need to be addressed. At this moment, your business may have already uncovered a host of issues that you need to start planning for and acting on in various ways.

As “stay-at-home” orders continue to pan out in full swing across all states and counties to contain the virus, your team may be stuck in their homes while helping your business rebuild. Over time, this working-from-home lifestyle may be an insurmountable part of their new normal, which means that your firm might also be doing the same.

While it may be a great thing to use the Internet to your business’s advantage as it acclimates to the challenges posed by COVID-19, there’s one problem that you’ll need to address: Phishing scams.

The rise of phishing campaigns

With the Coronavirus pandemic forcing a shift to digitalisation, businesses now face an array of unique challenges that span from Wi-Fi connectivity to employee training. However, doubts about cybersecurity present the biggest cause for concern because the digital migration that firms are making leaves them vulnerable to phishing attacks on all scales.

Among the different cybersecurity concerns that businesses face today, phishing campaigns stand out because they are affecting tens of thousands of businesses today.

What are phishing campaigns (in the context of COVID-19)?

 Although phishing campaigns are far from being new since they’ve been around for many years, COVID-19 has intensified their presence as a threat today.

Cybercriminals are now aiming to capitalise on the digital dependency fostered by the pandemic because of the enhanced risks associated with technological adoption. Those desperate to learn more about the pandemic to keep their businesses afloat, in particular, are the most susceptible because bad individuals seek to capitalise on their growing panic.

By carrying out a sequence of messages that cater to the need for answers to circumvent the effects of the pandemic, such campaigns can eventually lead to millions in losses.

The common phishing campaigns to watch out for

Generally, the campaigns are carried out through emails and phone calls or texts in various forms, which are designed to steal personal and financial information from unsuspecting victims. Fortunately, you can keep your assets, employees, data, and finances as safe as possible by knowing the most common forms of campaigns and watching out for them:

1. Stimulus Package Campaigns

One of the most common vessels being used today by cybercriminals capitalising on the panic due to COVID-19 is the concept of stimulus packages.

Based on the $2.1 trillion bipartisan economic relief plan signed by President Trump, the phishing campaign allows scammers to pose as authorities that require personal information in exchange for a payout. Considering more businesses are dependent on the need to attain as much financial support as possible, it’s easy to see why the stimulus package campaign has become so widespread.

If you or an employee receive a message containing directions for “receiving a stimulus check,” delete the email or text and block the sender because it is most likely a scam!

2. WHO/CDC Phishing Campaigns

Another common type of phishing campaign that is affecting thousands of American businesses today and putting their security at risk is the WHO or CDC campaign scam.

With this type of attack, bad individuals pose as “representatives” from the Centers for Disease and Control (CDC) or the World Health Organisation (WHO) that seek to provide information on the virus. However, the exchange does not come without a price because scammers will require recipients to click or download a link containing the “information,” only resulting in the creation of a portal that hackers can infiltrate.

 

Suppose your business is heavily relying on digital transformation and the adoption of various technologies to survive the pandemic. In that case, it is critical to watch out for the phishing attacks that can come your way. Through this guide’s help, you can keep an eye on all the necessary details and ensure that you don’t fall prey to opportunistic cybercriminals!

We’re an Australia brand protection company that specialises in helping businesses all over the country with our anti-phishing, anti-piracy solutions, and cyber-attack prevention services. Get in touch with us today to learn more about how we can help keep your business safe online!