March 26, 2020
ITS warns about online scams
The FBI has advised us that scammers are leveraging the COVID-19 Pandemic to steal money and conduct identity theft.
Please be alert for:
- Fake CDC Emails. Do not click on unexpected links. Be wary of websites and apps claiming to track COVID-19 cases. Accurate and up-to-date information about COVID-19 may be found at www.cdc.gov and www.coronavirus.gov.
- Phishing Emails. Look out for phishing emails asking you to verify personal info in order to receive an economic stimulus check. You may also see phishing emails related to:
- Charitable contributions
- General financial relief
- Airline carrier refunds
- Fake cures and vaccines
- Fake testing kits
- Counterfeit Treatments or Equipment. Be cautious of anyone selling products related to COVID-19, including treatments, cures, diagnostic products, etc. Also be alert for counterfeit products including sanitizing products and personal protective equipment (PPEs). More information may be found at www.cdc.gov/niosh and www.fda.gov. Report counterfeit products to www.ic3.gov.
What RIT is Doing
RIT Information Security and Public Safety work to detect threats and report them to the RIT community as they occur. RIT Information Security provides information on Phishing and current examples in the RIT PhishBowl.
What You Can Do
- If you have questions about a specific charity or believe that you may have fallen victim to a scam, contact Public Safety (585-475-2853).
- Report suspicious websites to the ITS Service Desk. (585-475-4357).
- Report suspicious emails to spam@rit.edu.
For More Information
- Authoritative information for COVID-19 and RIT may be found at https://www.rit.edu/coronavirus. Consult it daily as the site is updated frequently.
- FBI PSA FBI Sees Rise in Fraud Schemes Related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic