COVID scams and the sandwich generation
With the proliferation of scams in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, how do caregivers stay on top of that and everything else? Among the clients you work with, chances are many of their employees who are caring for others are facing these challenges more than ever.
That’s because the pandemic has created a perfect storm that severely threatens the security of our personally identifiable information, or PII. Consumers are spending more time on websites, social media and especially video chats. Meanwhile, an increasing number of malicious cybercriminals are pulling out all the stops to take advantage of peoples’ emotions and uncertainty to defraud consumers. They’re unleashing everything in their arsenal, from phishing emails and fake texts, to robocalls and zoombombing.
The people most targeted? Your kids and your parents.
Ironically, keeping kids and older adults safe at home has created an even greater window of opportunity for identity thieves and scammers. First, children are virtually living online right now, taking classes, gaming and hanging out with friends on social media (TikTok, anyone?). And seniors, with a heightened anxiety over the disease’s impact, have even more free time to take calls, check emails or leaf through their daily mail.
Second, according to Consumer Affairs, these two demographics are targeted aggressively. Children are often singled out because by stealing a child’s Social Security number, identity thieves can establish a fraudulent “clean slate.” And some studies suggest that people become more trusting as they age, which may explain why seniors are more prone to being taken in by phone, email and internet phishing scams. This is cause for concern right now, as financial information and medical information is especially sensitive.
Identity theft made easy
Identity theft takes on many forms, from tax fraud and financial theft to fake websites and imposter scams. It can start with an internet scam or someone stealing info from your mailbox. It could be your driver’s license, a username and password, or medical records, all of which are considered forms of identity theft.
I had a recent conversation with Michael Bruemmer, an industry colleague and Vice President of Consumer Protection at Experian, to discuss how identity theft and scams have ratcheted up during the pandemic and what can be done to help protect against it. He says identity theft is now even easier to commit, for three main reasons.
Related: Legal, ID theft benefits can help employees stay on track at work
He explains, “Number one, there is more data now available on the dark web to use in building a synthetic Identity. For example, when you combine the records that are stolen, bought and sold on the dark web, with all the social media info that people put online, and then combine that with what’s stolen through data breaches, you can create a full identity of someone without people even knowing their personal information was used.” The dark web is only accessible through special software or authorization, so users and website operators can remain anonymous or untraceable.
Bruemmer also warns that people often think they are not at risk, especially working from home. “During the pandemic, peoples’ routines aren’t the same; they may not be as cautious, not paying as much attention and are making common mistakes.”
“And finally,” he says, “It’s so much easier for hackers now. Even someone without expertise can buy a kit to launch a phishing attack. Plus, there has been such a large increase in corporate email during the pandemic. For example, you get an email from a financial institution that says ‘we’re confirming your updated information, making sure your funds are protected, etc. Here are your account numbers – log into your account.’“ Bruemmer says this is something that banks would never do, and it’s probably someone trying to download malware to your computer or phone.
Not paying attention will cost you
According to Bruemmer, minors and seniors are more susceptible to identity theft and scams because they are not sensitive to the dangers of working from home with an internet connection. “They are not as security conscious and don’t practice good security hygiene. Plus, they are social media active. Kids are on WhatsApp, Snapchat, Facebook etc. talking, interacting with friends.”
“Seniors are particularly at risk, because in most cases, they are at or just past the point where they are attractive as a target for a financial scam,” Bruemmer says. “That’s because, unlike younger people, they have the ability to send a $5,000 money order to someone in a foreign country who says a grandchild is in lockdown under pandemic restrictions.”
Much like other catastrophic events or natural disasters we’ve encountered in the past, the current outbreak is unfortunately yet another opportunity for hackers. Bruemmer states, “There are scams for wiring money, for supporting victims of the coronavirus, just like other tragedies. They tug at peoples’ hearts, but people aren’t paying attention to the particulars in the message. For example, it’s not the American Red Cross, it’s someone posing as them or pretending to be affiliated with them.”
He adds, “The number one cause for identity theft continues to be someone doing something they shouldn’t, like clicking on a link, downloading something that contains malware or shopping on a nonsecure website versus a name brand one that is secure.” One study has suggested that 3% of coronavirus-related domain names registered since January were malicious, while another 5% were suspicious.
Protecting your loved one’s personal data
So, let’s say you find yourself responsible for the identities and personal data of these two at-risk demographics. What can you do to reduce the chances of it being stolen? Here are Bruemmer’s top three recommendations to teach your loved ones:
- Always use strong passwords and never reuse passwords.
- Don’t respond to any email or click on any links, except if it’s from someone you were expecting.
- Be suspicious of all emails, phone calls, websites, etc., especially now.
In addition to these tips, other identity theft experts suggest monitoring credit reports – both yours and your children’s (if reports exist) to check for identity theft. Bruemmer adds, “The monitoring of your credit file and online information is absolutely critical for early detection.”
Steps to take if it happens
To help clients mitigate potential financial loss or damage to an employee’s good name or credit, Bruemmer suggests taking these steps. “If you think you’ve been a victim of identity theft, the first thing to do is to report it to the local police. Most metro departments have a special unit who will file that report.”
Bruemmer says, “If a financial account has been compromised, call your financial institution and put a hold or close on the account. If you suspect a card is compromised or your personal information is stolen, reset your password, and use two-factor authentication when possible as an extra layer of protection.”
He adds, “Ideally, you would have some sort of identity theft protection to help prevent it from happening or use it to mitigate losses if it does.” Plans that offer identity theft monitoring and/or restoration services are often available through entities such as a financial institution or a legal insurance plan.
“You call the number and a fraud restoration specialist can go beyond what you can do on your own. They can provide more specific advice and can often take actions on your behalf because they’ve dealt with that situation many times before.”
ID theft can take months to recover from and can greatly impact a person’s credit score, good name and financial well-being. A professional ID theft restoration specialist is an invaluable resource to have available when you need it most. It reduces the time, stress and effort an employee would endure in the event that their identity is stolen.
Dennis Healy is a member of the ARAG® executive team. Dennis is a passionate advocate for legal insurance because he has seen firsthand how it helps people receive the protection and legal help they need. He has nearly 30 years of insurance industry experience, with a primary focus on the sale of group voluntary benefit products to employer groups of all sizes through the brokers and consultant community.