FBI Describes Speed of Criminal Activity Breathtaking Amid Covid-19
Coronavirus Offers Up a Plethora of New Criminal Activity
Cristal M Clark
Although the headline is catchy I am not sure I would utilize the term breathtaking as opposed to downright frightening to describe the waves of new and improved criminal activity. The FBI yesterday warned that the public health and economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic are providing criminals with illicit opportunities at “breathtaking” speed. “Swindles, scams, and outright thefts are a regular feature of major disasters, the novel coronavirus has provided criminal opportunities on a scale likely to dwarf anything seen before. The speed at which criminals are devising and executing their schemes is truly breathtaking.”
Some of the criminal activity in connection with the pandemic ranges from sham treatments and vaccines to bogus investment opportunities in well, rather non-existent medical companies.
Some criminals have been busted for impersonating doctors demanding payment for treatments. Scammers have used websites and mobile apps to implant malware to steal financial and personal information. People are receiving phone calls from scammers pretending a loved one is in the hospital and are demanding money so the said loved one can receive treatment for Covid-19.
Other criminals have used COVID-19 as a lure to deploy ransomware for payments which the FBI derided as “homicidal in the midst of a global pandemic.”The criminals are also aiming at swindling funds from the economic relief fund.
The FBI is working hard to shut down any and all of this type of illegal activity but you know as well as I do that they are not going to be able to keep up with it. In addition to all of that, a lot of extremist groups are spreading fear and misinformation in an attempt to overthrow the government and to cause chaos and pandemonium.
As if we didn’t have enough to worry about these days. Stay safe everyone.
Cristal M Clark
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