Kingston Police warn of scammers exploiting COVID-19 pandemic

Kingston Police continue to alert the community of scams associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, this time reporting a recent phishing attack brought to their attention.

In recently-reported coronavirus-themed phishing attacks, criminals are using email to send victims which appear to be from a hospital. The emails warn the victim that they have been exposed to COVID-19 through contact with a colleague, friend, or family member.

Attached to the email is a ‘pre-filled’ form for the victim to download and take with them to the hospital.

“Don’t be fooled,” Kingston Police said in a statement. “The attachment is actually a sophisticated piece of malware. This threat relies on panic and fear to bypass rational thinking. Don’t give into that fear.

Police said to remain vigilant and offered the following tips:

• Think before you click. The scammers rely on impulsive clicking
• Never download an attachment from an email you weren’t expecting
• Even if the sender appears to be from a familiar organization, the email address could be spoofed.

It is always best to follow up with the organization mentioned in an email via telephone (look the number up on your own, don’t trust those numbers provided in an email).