{"id":256995,"date":"2020-04-21T16:56:38","date_gmt":"2020-04-21T06:56:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=256995"},"modified":"2020-04-21T16:57:45","modified_gmt":"2020-04-21T06:57:45","slug":"dont-fall-for-covid-19-scams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2020\/04\/21\/dont-fall-for-covid-19-scams\/","title":{"rendered":"Don’t Fall For COVID-19 Scams"},"content":{"rendered":"
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An example of a COVID-19 scam sent by SMS
(Photo: ACSC)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

April 21, 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n

Scammers are finding easy prey at the moment with more and more people relying on mobile devices to keep in touch during social isolation.<\/p>\n

The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) has warned that criminals are targeting Australians through a range of COVID-19 themed scams, fraud attempts and deceptive email schemes.<\/p>\n

Since March 10, the ACSC has received more than 95 reports about people losing money or personal information to COVID-19 scams and online frauds.<\/p>\n

It has also disrupted more than 150 malicious COVID-19 themed websites, with assistance from Australia\u2019s major telecommunications providers as well as Google and Microsoft.<\/p>\n

ACSC head Abigail Bradshaw said the ACSC had observed malicious foreign cyber actors adapting their techniques and aligning their malicious activities within days \u2013 sometimes even hours \u2013 of government announcements such as relief payments or public health guidance.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Australian Cyber Security Centre is focused on protecting Australian families and businesses against cyber scams and compromises during the COVID-19 pandemic, and helping them to stay safe online,\u201d Ms\u00a0Bradshaw said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Australian Signals Directorate has also used its offensive cyber capabilities to disrupt foreign cybercriminals responsible for malicious cyber activities exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic. We have stopped them from accessing their own systems and prevented them from accessing information they stole.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI encourage all Australians to remain vigilant against the threat of cybercrime, and check our advisories at cyber.gov.au<\/a><\/strong> so you know what to look for and what to do,\u201d Ms Bradshaw said.<\/p>\n