Morris County: Cyber Security Important During Crisis — Watch out for Scams
Morris County: Cyber Security Important During Crisis — Watch out for Scams
Think Before You Click — Beware of COVID-19 Related Scams
With a dramatic increase in Telework that requires remote accessing of work Information Technology resources and the reliance of residents on the Internet for services, programs and information due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important for county residents to remain vigilant about Cyber Security and phone scams.
Malicious persons are leveraging the COVID-19 crisis to steal your money, your personal information, or both, warns Morris County Chief Information Officer John Tugman.
The FBI has warned this week that scammers are offering such items such as free COVID-19 testing kits and guaranteed anti-virus air duct cleaning services to residents via telephone and the Internet. The FBI said cyber scamming efforts have doubled in the past couple of weeks.
Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon also has cautioned residents to beware of fraud schemes that target COVID-19 health concerns.
County residents are advised to think before clicking on links that purport to offer medical advice, seek online donations, contribute to crowdfunding campaigns, purchase virus-related products online, or seek your personal information to receive money or other benefits.
Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails and be particularly wary of email attachments.
Get updates from trusted sources:
- CDC’s Novel Coronavirus Website
- New Jersey Department of Health
- Morris County Government
- State of New Jersey COVID-19 Website
- CDC: Share Facts About COVID-19, Stop the Spread of Rumors
Visit these two sites from the Office of Homeland Security and Federal Trade Commission for additional information:
- https://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/current-activity/2020/03/06/defending-against-covid-19-cyber-scams
- https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2020/02/coronavirus-scammers-follow-headlines
Morris County’s John Tugman also advises that when using personnel computing resources to connect to your place of business, insure your system is current with all software and security updates and is running an Anti-Virus product.
Remember to always to Stop and Think before Connecting!
