Covid-19 Cyber Crime Awareness

Staffordshire Police

Covid-19 remains a very current concern and is already causing angst for many people. Unfortunately, people and businesses are being exploited because of the opportunity this situation is providing to criminals through cybercrime and fraud.

Cyber criminals will exploit vulnerabilities in systems and networks, and will exploit fear in people.

National Cybercrime Programme Lead from National Police Chiefs' Council has stated; ‘We are already seeing as a result of this crisis increasing, targeted threats from Hostile State Actors and OCGs against a variety of targets' and ‘ The current business as usual level of attacks will have more damaging impact in this period as the businesses themselves, their IT companies and wider cyber security industry have less capacity to respond quickly to mitigate the damage with high levels of staff abstracted through sickness and self-isolation.'

The following threat and risk areas are considered high priority:

• Ransomware – this is the greatest threat and risk.
• Phishing
• Home working
• Wider online fraud

Please read the following advice:

URGENT Covid-19 Related Scams

NCSC guidance for Home-working

NCSC Ransomware

NCSC Cyber Experts Advice

NCSC Malware & Ransomware Guidance

Fake Online Coronavirus Map Delivers Well-known Malware

COVID-19 Vaccine Phishing Scams