Scammers Target Remote Workers With Email Phishing Campaigns

According to a recent USA Today article, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that it had received 83,858 fraud reports this year through August 9th relating to COVID-19 and the economic stimulus packages. Many of these fraud reports are connected to email phishing campaigns that target remote, telework or furloughed employees.

In one type of phishing campaign, scammers send emails to workers telling them that their employment is being terminated as a result of COVID-19 and purports to offer termination package options. These termination email scams provide clickable links inviting the employee to attend a teleconference meeting or to obtain additional information concerning the termination packages. Instead, these links download malicious software or require the employee to enter personal information, such as a Social Security number, in an attempt to steal their identity and ultimately commit financial fraud that harms the employee. Employees who receive