The TTU IT Division reminds the Lubbock community to remain vigilant for malicious cyber activity seeking to capitalize on the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) topic.
Recently, federal agencies have noticed an increase in malicious activity related to this topic, specifically, the COVID-19 vaccine (source: FBI.gov).
These scams typically fall under one of the following categories:
- Advertisements or offers for early access to a vaccine upon payment of a deposit or fee;
- Requests asking you to pay out of pocket to obtain the vaccine or to put your name on a COVID-19 vaccine waiting list
- Marketers offering to sell and/or ship doses of a vaccine, domestically or internationally, in exchange for payment of a deposit or fee;
- Unsolicited emails, telephone calls, or personal contact from someone claiming to be from a medical office, insurance company, or COVID-19 vaccine center requesting personal and/or medical information to determine recipients' eligibility to participate in clinical vaccine trials or obtain the vaccine; and
- Individuals contacting you in person, by phone, or by email to tell you the government or government officials require you to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
These scams often contain links or attachments that direct users to phishing or malware-infected websites. In some cases, these attempts to steal your identity are very sophisticated, complete with professional logos and fluent grammar.
For official information about the Coronavirus and the vaccine, please visit: