Threat Spotlight: Covid-19 Test-Related Email Scams

COVID-19 test-related phishing attacks: Cybercriminals are taking advantage of the heightened focus on the COVID-19 testing and the current scarcity of tests to launch phishing attacks.

- Olesia Klevchuk

Scammers are using different tactics to get the attention of their victims. Some of the most common scams included:

• Offers to sell COVID-19 tests and other medical supplies such as masks or gloves. Some of these scams are selling counterfeit or otherwise unauthorized products.

• Fake notifications of unpaid for orders for COVID-19 tests, where scammer provide a PayPal account to send payments to complete purchase of rapid tests counting on the desperation of their victims.

• Impersonation of either labs, testing providers, or individual employees sharing fake COVID-19 test results.

HIGHLIGHTED THREAT

COVID-19 has dominated headlines for almost two years, and hackers continue to exploit the pandemic in their attacks. Back in March 2020 COVID-19-related phishing attacks jumped 667%, and then as vaccination programs rolled out so did the new wave vaccine-related email threats. The latest omicron variant led to another spike in COVID-19 cases – as well as phishing attacks.

As demand for COVID-19 tests increased in recent weeks, the number of scams exploiting the scarcity of tests also went up. Our researchers saw an increase in COVID-19 test-related phishing attacks over the past couple of months. Between October and January, the number of COVID-19 test-related scams increased by 521%. The daily average peaked in early January, declining recently before starting to trend upward again.

THE DETAILS