Office of Consumer Protection Warns of ‘Malicious’ COVID-19 Phishing Scams

The Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection has warned of increased phishing scams that take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic and teleworking conditions.

On Tuesday, the Office of Consumer Protection issued a warning via Twitter that cyber criminals have been “ramping up malicious phishing scams.” The global pandemic, coupled with the new norm of teleworking, has created a new opportunity for cyber criminals to target the public. They do so by sending people seemingly urgent text messages pertaining to COVID-19.

These text messages will also direct the recipient to click on a link or send a text response to a provided code. Such actions can result in individuals becoming victims of cyber criminals’ phishing scams.

The Office of Consumer Protection’s tweet contained an example of one of these texts, which states, “Someone who came into contact with you tested positive or has shown symptoms for COVID-19 & recommends you self-isolate/get tested.” This message is then followed by a link where the recipient can supposedly find more information.

Although the public may receive such text messages, they can easily prevent themselves from being scammed by not clicking on links or sending text responses.

Cyber criminals are ramping up malicious phishing scams by using the current global pandemic and teleworking conditions. They target mobile devices by sending text messages with a sense of urgency to click on a link or send a text response to a code that they provide. #DontClick pic.twitter.com/kyLyD1Qbp7

— Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection (@ConsumerWise) June 8, 2020

About Mira Varghese

Mira was a student at the University of Maryland double majoring in Journalism and Government and Politics during the summer of 2020 when she interned with Montgomery Community Media.

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