Scams are thriving during COVID-19. Here’s what to watch out for.
Gmail is marking images with warnings when it suspects they're phishing attacks. (Gmail/)Over the last few weeks, people have begun to receive text messages claiming that they have come into contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus. It’s an official-looking message that claims to come from the CDC, but includes a sketchy URL designed to pull in worried victims and steal their personal information. This kind of phishing scam is extremely common, but the social distancing initiatives due to the pandemic have given scammers a reason to crank up their efforts. The FBI expects an uptick in just about every type of scheme you can imagine. According to the agency, risks are higher right now because so many people—adults and students—are working from home, a setup that places them outside any digital protections they enjoy when working in a school or an office. While some tech companies and...