COVID-19 Used for Phone and Phishing Scams

Criminals are opportunists, and unfortunately many will take advantage of the fear and uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 (Coronavirus) to launch phone scams and phishing campaigns.

• Be on the lookout for an increased number of COVID-19 related phishing emails and scams. Even if they are offering accurate information, if you click on the link in an email or open an attachment, it could infect your computer with malware.
• If a caller phones you or sends you a text asking for health information and personal information the request is likely not legitimate. If the caller claims to be from an entity you trust, look up their official phone number and call them back to ensure the caller is legitimate. 

The Ohio State University will NEVER ask for your password via email, phone, or any other method.

To avoid misinformation regarding the virus, make sure to use trusted sources of information, such as the university’s website or legitimate government websites like cdc.gov and who.int. 

As always, remain vigilant and avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails, and be wary of email attachments. Some things you may see in emails to be wary of: 

• Emails claiming to be from health or medical organizations but seem “off.” Remember to look for grammatical mistakes and misspellings.
• Products claiming to prevent, treat, or cure COVID-19 
• Fraudulent charity requests 
• Emails asking you to provide personal or financial information 

If you feel that you have received a suspicious email, please forward it to report-phish@osu.edu.