ITS Blog

Coronavirus Phishing Scams: An Update



Coronavirus Phishing Scams: An Update


Monday, March 30, 2020

UPDATES on the ITS Phish Tank: - three new phishing scams, review them here.


As coronavirus fears ramp up, so do the number of cyberattacks and phishing scams. Unfortunately, we’ve just started receiving some of these hoaxes here at Binghamton. Below are some of the newest coronavirus phishing scams you should be aware of, including the one that just recently hit our campus:


A student at SUNY New Paltz reported the above scam. It doesn’t quite look like a scam, but why? Because, the email includes a link to the University’s official coronavirus page and the contact information at the bottom is technically correct. However, the destination link (where you would be redirected to if you clicked on “Authentication”) is malicious. Bottom line: don’t trust emails just because they look authentic. Be sure to HOVER OVER LINKS first to check their destinations before clicking on them.


The Federal Trade Commission is also warning people about scams related to the coronavirus $1,000 relief check plan. While the government hasn’t finalized any details yet, cybercriminals are already seizing the opportunity. 


Some things to remember: the government will not ask you to pay anything up front to get the check. Second, they won’t ask for your Social Security number or any bank account or credit card numbers. Third, and most importantly, the checks aren’t a reality yet, so anyone telling you they can get you the money now is false and most likely a scammer.


Below is a current scam that some Binghamton University students have received in their inboxes:

While these are tough times, it’s important to remain vigilant. Please read our other coronavirus phishing scam blog post for more information on these scams and how to avoid them. It’s also a good idea to read this article, published by Spycloud, about the numerous other scams going around: https://spycloud.com/psa-9-ways-attackers-are-capitalizing-on-covid-19/.


For more information about the actual virus, visit the University’s official webpage. 


To stay up to date on the latest phishing scams, regularly review the ITS Phishing Page and Phish Tank: https://binghamton.edu/its/phishing.


Received a phishy email? Report it to security@binghamton.edu.