If you’re a Postal Service employee, watch out for scams that attempt to use the coronavirus pandemic to con you into revealing personal information.
Emergency situations are prime opportunities for criminals to take advantage of unsuspecting consumers.
Scammers are creating websites devoted to the coronavirus pandemic and COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. These sites might appear authentic, but they’re actually designed to steal usernames, passwords and other sensitive information.
To protect yourself, the CyberSafe at USPS team and the Postal Inspection Service offer these tips:
• Be cautious of unexpected email and text messages. Cybercriminals are adept at creating convincing emails and texts that appear to come from trustworthy organizations, such as the World Health Organization, seeking information or donations.
• Be suspicious of messages with links or attachments. Instead of clicking a link in an email to retrieve information, go to an organization’s website to retrieve the information directly.
• Be leery of emails that use urgency, fear or threats to get you to take immediate action. Also: Don’t take unexpected phone calls from individuals claiming to be with a legitimate organization.
• Beware of charity scams. Only contribute to established organizations.
• Remember: There currently is no cure for COVID-19. Be wary of offers for vaccines, pills or other products that claim to cure the virus.
If you receive a suspicious or phishing email at work, report it immediately by selecting the “Report to CyberSafe Security” button in Outlook.
The CyberSafe at USPS Blue and LiteBlue pages have additional tips to avoid phishing, while the Postal Inspection Service’s website has information about other coronavirus-related scams.