Breach Alert

“Due to the Coronavirus crisis, unemployment numbers have skyrocketed. As usual, the bad guys are quick to take advantage of these hard times and are sending out phony work-from-home opportunities. Typically, these phishing emails contain grammar mistakes and offer minimal details about the hiring company and the job requirements. But the scammers still manage to grab your attention because the job opportunity includes a great paycheck.

Once accepted, these scammers ease the victim into their new “job”, by asking them to complete basic errands, but eventually, they’re given the task of transferring funds from one account to another. Typically, these are stolen funds and the unsuspecting “employee” is being used as a money mule. Even though these victims are unaware of the crime they are committing, they can still face hefty fines and prison time.” (knowbe4.com, 2020)

How it Could Affect You

If you are seeking additional income during this time, be aware of email job opportunities that present themselves, although you have never applied to them. Make sure that you are only using verified job sites, referrals, and searches to find ways to supplement your income.

Don’t allow scammers to turn your time of need into a time of desperation and bad decisions.

“Remember these tips and share them with your friends and family who may be looking for work:

• Be wary of emails with spelling or grammatical errors.
• Never trust unusual requests or job offers. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
• If you feel you have been solicited to be a money mule, contact your local authorities or report the situation to the appropriate federal agency.” (knowbe4.com, 2020)

Hodgson Can Help

Make sure you are staying aware of what’s going in the world around you, without becoming obsessed. Obsession can often lead to confusion. That confusion and uncertainty are what scammers rely on you get you to make rash decisions, like falling into the scheme above. If you or someone you know, or someone associated with your business has potentially fallen for this type of ploy, take recovery action now! Here at Hodgson Consulting & Solutions, we specialize in securing data and information loss prevention for companies with multiple locations and/or a remote workforce. We offer full solutions for your IT needs, not just Band-Aid fixes. Contact us to receive a 100% Confidential Dark Web Scan and also learn more about our Managed Security Service Plans. Contact our office today at 847-906-5005.