Have you received an email from Mike Pence?
The Digital Security firm Inky reports that they've discovered a new, disturbing phishing campaign you should be aware of.
The company has spotted a disturbing number of scam emails purporting to be from Mike Pence, the Vice President of the United States.
The emails bear titles like "Coronavirus Guidelines for America." (This is a real government website that uses almost the exact verbiage.)
More COVAD-19 barrages
It's bad enough that hackers and scammers are taking advantage of the fear and confusion of the global pandemic to ply their trade. This campaign is noteworthy for the simple reason that the people behind it went straight to the top of the food chain. Not content to pretend to be from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) or the World Health Organization (WHO), they opted instead to impersonate the people who hold the highest elected offices in the land.
It's a bold move that's paying off for them. After all, if you received an email from the Vice President, promising updates and information about the virus, odds are you'd want to take a closer look.
That's exactly what the scammers are counting on
The emails they're sending out have attachments that promise updates and information. However, all clicking on them does is install malware on the victim's system, leaving them open to identity theft and the loss of a wide range of personal data.
As ever, vigilance is the key. If you don't know the person sending you an email message, the safest course of action is to simply not open it at all. If you can't resist opening it to take a peek, certainly don't risk opening any attachments or clicking on any links the email might contain.
Our perspective
The hackers and scammers are relentless and are using the current fear, frustration, and uncertainty to lure unsuspecting victims. Don't fall for it. Stay safe out there, both online and out in the world.
~ As Hill Street Blues' Sgt. Esterhaus always advised: "Hey, let's be careful out there! " ~
Meanwhile, check out this report
This free executive report may give you insights into how to build your business with safe IT environments: 10 Hidden IT Risks That Might Threaten Your Business and 1 Easy Way to Find Them
The author
Thanks for reading this short post. For more tips on thriving with small business technology, check out the other blog posts at DWPia Blogs. I am also available on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
I am Denis Wilson, President and Principal Consultant for DWP Information Architects. I help professionals grow their business by building a foundation of rock-solid information solutions for smaller healthcare, insurance, financial, legal, and nonprofits firms in Ventura County and San Fernando Valley. And have created cost-effective IT solutions, for over 20 years, specializing in cybersecurity and regulatory compliance. I am also a published author and speaker, working extensively with a variety of organizations, as well as providing small business technology education programs through business and professional associations. This just in: I will be speaking regularly at California Lutheran University's Center for Nonprofit Leadership starting in September.
Contact me if you would like me to speak at your association
