Britain Cracks Down On Corona Crime

British spy chiefs have taken down more than 2,000 online scams linked to coronavirus  as they crack down on cyber criminals trying to exploit the health crisis. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) said it had closed down 471 fake online shops selling fraudulent virus-related items, as well as 555 malware distribution sites.

The NCSC also says it took down more than 2,000 online coronavirus scams in March. It coincides with new online safety advice from the agency as part of a national awareness campaign.

NCSC also launched an email reporting service, which the public can use to flag any suspicious activity. The NCSC, which is part of GCHQ, also identified phishing sites targeting passwords and credit card details and hundreds of advance-fee frauds, where a large sum of money is promised in return for a set-up payment.

The agency has also  launched a spam reporting service, allowing the public to flag suspicious emails.

Numerous other malware and phishing sites have been removed, as well as almost 900 advance-fee fraud schemes, where a large sum of money is promised in return for a one-off payment. There is growing concern that criminals are hoping to capitalise on the increased usage of the internet during the pandemic. The public is being advised to forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk. An automated program will test websites flagged as a result, and block those determined to be suspicious.

These scams nearly always start with an email. The NCSC’s Suspicious Email Reporting Service provides a way to report dodgy messages. The problem is that recipients often do not recognise them as such. I’ve been tracking coronavirus phishing emails since the start of the outbreak. 

Fake emails are in circulation that appear to be from the World Health Organisation which  have all the correct logos and signatures, and even look like they have been sent from a WHO email address. But It’s all fake and victims who download the accompanying "advice document" may give control of their finances to hackers.

The NCSC says the public needs to be highly suspicious. Don’t download or click on anything unless you are absolutely certain of the sender, and if the offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.
 

NCSC:       City AM:       BBC:       Wigan Today: 

You Might Also Read: 

British Government Advice Threatens Your Cyber Security: