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10 cyber fraud scams to look out for during the covid-19 crisis

UK Finance, the trade body for the banking and finance industry in the UK, warned last year about the top 10 cyber fraud scams used during the Covid-19 crisis to trick people and organisations out of hard-won cash and company revenues. Many of these scams still apply in the current climate. They are as follows:

Cyber Security Training Content and eLearning COVID-19

Posted 20/01/2021

  1. Fake government emails that contain links which steal personal and financial information.
  2. Scam emails offering access to "Covid-19 relief funds", which encourage victims to fill in a form and hand over their personal information.
  3. Official-looking emails offering a "council tax reduction". The emails contain links that lead to a fake government website that then obtains your personal and financial information.
  4. Benefit recipients are offered help in applying for universal credit, but fraudsters grab some of the payment as an advance for their "services".
  5. Phishing emails claiming that the recipient has been in contact with someone diagnosed with Covid-19. They lead to fake websites that are used to steal personal and financial information or infect devices with malware.
  6. Fake adverts for non-existent coronavirus-related products, such as hand sanitiser and face masks, which simply take the victim's cash and send them nothing.
  7. Fake emails and texts claiming to be from TV Licensing, telling people they are eligible for six months for free because of the pandemic. Victims are then taken to a fake website.
  8. Emails asking people to update their TV subscription services payment details by clicking on a link which is then used to steal credit card information.
  9. Fake profiles on social media sites are used to manipulate victims into handing over their money. Criminals will often use the identities of real people to strike up a conversation with their targets.
  10. Fake investment opportunities are advertised on social media sites, encouraging victims to "take advantage of the financial downturn". Victims put money into fake companies using fake websites.


Sadly, the techniques involved with the above have been well known for many years and all rely on our actions to succeed – clicking on a link, responding to an exciting new offer and keeping up to date with payments, for example.

It’s never been as important for everyone to remain vigilant. We all need to beware of the rumours, misinformation, hoaxes, and snake oil cures that the Coronavirus has spawned. Employees really are on the frontline, but we can help them do the right thing by adopting engaging, short and innovative training techniques to build new behaviours.

Access Cyber Awareness and Resilience training can help you build secure employee behaviours, at home and in the workplace. We provide practical, short and engaging, campaign based online training certified by the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). Find out more our Cyber Awareness Training.