COVID-19 Insurance Scams Beware of Insurance Scams
There are many efforts underway to steal information and money through insurance scams.  Some of the recent scams involve:
  • Fake "corona" insurance,
  • Bogus calls warning that your health insurance was cancelled,
  • Offers of all sorts of coronavirus medications,
  • Robocalls offering "special virus test kits" and asking for Medicare numbers, SSNs, insurance information, and other medical information, and
  • Fake coronavirus travel insurance.
As mentioned in the article:

Caution is your best corona vaccine:
  • Never give out your personal info unless you requested. This includes medical, healthcare policy, SSN, credit or other info to a stranger or robocall. It’s a scam.
  • Don’t click on emails, attachments, weblinks or social-media posts unless they’re from people or organizations you know.
  • Hang up on recorded robocalls or live callers pitching low-cost insurance, or who ask for your personal information unsolicited.
  • Don’t click on links from unknown sources in a text message or e-mail. The links could download viruses or malware.
  • Ignore online offers for vaccinations. There currently are no vaccines, pills, “organic” or other prescription or over-the-counter products for coronavirus.
Article:  https://www.insurancefraud.org/blog/mar-2020/lets-vaccinate-against-corona-insur
]]> There are many efforts underway to steal information and money through insurance scams.  Some of the recent scams involve: Fake "corona" insurance, Bogus calls warning that your health... https://dev.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/91620/guest@my.umbc.edu/61da533e61dcc6bbb00baaddf6eabd8a/api/pixel covid19 notice IT Security - DoIT Cybersecurity Assurance and Digital Trust https://dev.my.umbc.edu/groups/itsecurity https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/xsmall.png?1761588639 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/original.png?1761588639 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/xxlarge.png?1761588639 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/xlarge.png?1761588639 https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/large.png?1761588639 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/medium.png?1761588639 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/small.png?1761588639 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/xsmall.png?1761588639 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/xxsmall.png?1761588639 IT Security - DoIT 0 0 true Fri, 27 Mar 2020 00:16:15 -0400 Fri, 27 Mar 2020 00:18:49 -0400 Fraudulent Requests for Medicare Information and $1000 Offer Don't Give out Information or Fall for Unreal Offers

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports a warning from the Florida Attorney General about recent COVID-19 scams.  In one case, ”a 90-year-old woman was asked for her Medicare number so she could receive a free COVID-19 testing kit”.  In another, people received unsolicited text messages asking them to click a link for a $1000 support payment. See the following news article for details: COVID-19 scams prompt statewide warnings


If you receive an unsolicited call, email message, or text message asking for personal information or making an offer that is too good to be true, don't respond. Contact the organization making the request or offer directly and make sure the request or offer is valid.


Please report all scams to security@umbc.edu.




 ]]> The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports a warning from the Florida Attorney General about recent COVID-19 scams.  In one case, ”a 90-year-old woman was asked for her Medicare number so she could... https://dev.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/91619/guest@my.umbc.edu/aa8400e83d4f4ede952e17e8354a7b06/api/pixel covid19 notice IT Security - DoIT Cybersecurity Assurance and Digital Trust https://dev.my.umbc.edu/groups/itsecurity https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/xsmall.png?1761588639 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/original.png?1761588639 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/xxlarge.png?1761588639 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/xlarge.png?1761588639 https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/large.png?1761588639 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/medium.png?1761588639 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/small.png?1761588639 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/xsmall.png?1761588639 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/xxsmall.png?1761588639 IT Security - DoIT 0 0 true Thu, 26 Mar 2020 23:57:22 -0400 Fri, 27 Mar 2020 00:19:07 -0400 Fake COVID-19 Giftcards If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is... For several days, there have been reports of fake gift cards supposedly distributed by Starbucks, Lowes, and Walmart as an ‘apology’ for closing their stores due to social distancing requirements.  The Starbucks messages include the offer of a $100 gift card.

If a person clicks on the link in the email message, the person will be taken to a page that will ask for their personal information. Any information that is submitted will be sent to scammers. Malware will also often be installed onto the person's computer.

If an offer seems too good to be true, it usually is. When something seems suspicious, the best thing to do is to contact the company directly to ask if the offer is valid. In the case of Starbucks, you can check the Starbucks app, contact the corporate customer service center, or contact a local store.

For more details, see the following websites:

]]> For several days, there have been reports of fake gift cards supposedly distributed by Starbucks, Lowes, and Walmart as an ‘apology’ for closing their stores due to social distancing... https://dev.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/91617/guest@my.umbc.edu/18e95940ddd9459e74d6281278190ea8/api/pixel covid19 notice IT Security - DoIT Cybersecurity Assurance and Digital Trust https://dev.my.umbc.edu/groups/itsecurity https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/xsmall.png?1761588639 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/original.png?1761588639 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/xxlarge.png?1761588639 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/xlarge.png?1761588639 https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/large.png?1761588639 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/medium.png?1761588639 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/small.png?1761588639 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/xsmall.png?1761588639 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/xxsmall.png?1761588639 IT Security - DoIT 0 0 true Thu, 26 Mar 2020 23:35:39 -0400 Thu, 26 Mar 2020 23:46:28 -0400 US DOJ Tracking COVID-19 Scams The US DOJ has a Coronavirus Fraud Task Force The US Department of Justice has created a task force to track scams related to COVID-19.  The following web page lists many of the types of scams they are tracking:  COVID-19 Fraud  If you see or are the victim of a scam, please report it to security@umbc.edu and the US DOJ or FBI.  Instructions for reporting scams to the DOJ and FBI are listed on the website above. 

From the DOJ Web Page:

The Task Force is working to keep the public safe from fraud and scams. Some examples of COVID-19 scams include:
  • Treatment scams:  Scammers are offering to sell fake cures, vaccines, and advice on unproven treatments for COVID-19
  • Supply scams:  Scammers are creating fake shops, websites, social media accounts, and email addresses claiming to sell medical supplies currently in high demand, such as surgical masks. When consumers attempt to purchase supplies through these channels, fraudsters pocket the money and never provide the promised supplies.
  • Provider scams:  Scammers are also contacting people by phone and email, pretending to be doctors and hospitals that have treated a friend or relative for COVID-19, and demanding payment for that treatment.
  • Charity scams:  Scammers are soliciting donations for individuals, groups, and areas affected by COVID-19.  
  • Phishing scams:  Scammers posing as national and global health authorities, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are sending phishing emails designed to trick recipients into downloading malware or providing personal identifying and financial information.
  • App scams:  Scammers are also creating and manipulating mobile apps designed to track the spread of COVID-19 to insert malware that will compromise users’ devices and personal information. 
  • Investment scams:  Scammers are offering online promotions on various platforms, including social media, claiming that the products or services of publicly traded companies can prevent, detect, or cure COVID-19, and that the stock of these companies will dramatically increase in value as a result. These promotions are often styled as “research reports,” make predictions of a specific “target price,” and relate to microcap stocks, or low-priced stocks issued by the smallest of companies with limited publicly available information.
]]> The US Department of Justice has created a task force to track scams related to COVID-19.  The following web page lists many of the types of scams they are tracking:  COVID-19 Fraud  If you see or... https://dev.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/91616/guest@my.umbc.edu/6a7234eaf01f5f771659b10b7a7ddd8c/api/pixel covid19 notice IT Security - DoIT Cybersecurity Assurance and Digital Trust https://dev.my.umbc.edu/groups/itsecurity https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/xsmall.png?1761588639 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/original.png?1761588639 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/xxlarge.png?1761588639 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/xlarge.png?1761588639 https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/large.png?1761588639 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/medium.png?1761588639 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/small.png?1761588639 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/xsmall.png?1761588639 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/xxsmall.png?1761588639 IT Security - DoIT 0 0 true Thu, 26 Mar 2020 23:19:15 -0400 Thu, 26 Mar 2020 23:21:10 -0400 COVID-19 Scams Reported to the BBB

The Better Business Bureau has has a website that tracks scams and fraud. BBB Scam Tracker


The Scam Tracker lists information about scams in general, but also has a section about COVID-19 scams. For the full list, please visit the BBB website. Example of scams the BBB is tracking include:


  • Price Gouging: Ex: Selling $10 health products for $79.99

  • Fraudulent Products: Ex: Ineffective face masks

  • Impersonating Officials: Ex: Requesting personal information by posing as an employee of “US Health Care”


Don't fall victim to these attempts to take advantage of vulnerable people. If you do come across a scam, please report it to security@umbc.edu. You can also report it to the BBB through their scam tracker website.


]]> The Better Business Bureau has has a website that tracks scams and fraud. BBB Scam Tracker The Scam Tracker lists information about scams in general, but also has a section about COVID-19... https://itsecurity.umbc.edu/covid19 https://dev.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/91572/guest@my.umbc.edu/38ed8ba177b7f58c4c496c9ddcf18902/api/pixel covid19 notice IT Security - DoIT Cybersecurity Assurance and Digital Trust https://dev.my.umbc.edu/groups/itsecurity https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/xsmall.png?1761588639 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/original.png?1761588639 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/xxlarge.png?1761588639 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/xlarge.png?1761588639 https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/large.png?1761588639 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/medium.png?1761588639 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/small.png?1761588639 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/xsmall.png?1761588639 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/xxsmall.png?1761588639 IT Security - DoIT 0 0 true Wed, 25 Mar 2020 12:35:39 -0400 Thu, 26 Mar 2020 22:57:09 -0400 Fake COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Apps Beware of Fake Coronavirus Smartphone Apps

An Android app, advertised as a coronavirus tracker, mimics the display of the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center main page but also installs spyware into the phone.1  


A similar app was offered from a malicious site that mirrored live data from a legitimate website and added a banner urging viewers to download the malware.  If a person was tricked into downloading the malware, the malware would lock the person's phone and present the user with a ransom demand.2


  1. https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2020/03/18/coronavirus-scam-alert-covid-19-map-malware-can-spy-on-you-through-your-android-microphone-and-camera/#5857d81c75fd
  2. https://abcnews.go.com/US/online-scammers-target-vulnerable-internet-users-coronavirus-outbreak/story?id=69675134
]]> An Android app, advertised as a coronavirus tracker, mimics the display of the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center main page but also installs spyware into the phone.1   A similar app was... https://itsecurity.umbc.edu/covid19 https://dev.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/91569/guest@my.umbc.edu/ce3ecf899a5763393224826c8ad4bf6d/api/pixel covid19 notice IT Security - DoIT Cybersecurity Assurance and Digital Trust https://dev.my.umbc.edu/groups/itsecurity https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/xsmall.png?1761588639 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/original.png?1761588639 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/xxlarge.png?1761588639 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/xlarge.png?1761588639 https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/large.png?1761588639 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/medium.png?1761588639 https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/small.png?1761588639 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/xsmall.png?1761588639 https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/001/660/859c6838736bc30c98279ed45d7fd70a/xxsmall.png?1761588639 IT Security - DoIT 0 0 true Wed, 25 Mar 2020 11:57:09 -0400 Thu, 26 Mar 2020 23:00:36 -0400