- 28/04/2020
- Category: Commentaries
The spread of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in late 2019 has seen a tremendous amount of publicity surrounding it as more countries are scrambling to stop the adverse effect of the pandemic. The deadly virus has incited public fear and anxiety towards the uncertain outcome of the virus itself. This is bolstered by socio-economical fear that was brought upon by the spread of COVID-19. However, amidst this public anxiety, it provides a window of opportunity for fraudsters to utilize the fear surrounding the pandemic to benefit them. Public fear has made online users more susceptible to getting online scams that benefit over their fear and anxiety to obtain illegal information, malware, and financial fraud. This can be correlated to the concept of ‘The Fraud Triangle,’ which explains the driving factor of why fraud is being conducted and sustained. These three elements are opportunity, pressure, and rationalization.[i] As the world is moving through some uncertain times during this pandemic, the situation has opened up the opportunity for online scammers, as most people are now working from home through their internet. They also rationalized their actions by justifying that the pandemic has made people economically vulnerable. Some of the types of online scams that have been growing during the pandemic include phishing emails, online donation frauds, and fake products using COVID-19 as their selling point.
One of the most common online scams that circulate this pandemic is phishing emails. One study shows that there has been a 667% increase in phishing emails since early March.[ii] The way that online scammers entice victims is by posing as known organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They use the technique of ‘domain spoofing,’ which made the emails look real and came from the organizations themselves.[iii] The emails may contain urgent messages of COVID-19 cases near recipients, prevention tips, and online donations while also attaching malicious email attachments or links. Usually, they provide bogus links that can be used to steal valuable personal information such as passwords, bank account information, and ID numbers. There are also instances where the link provided can install malware and ransomware that could steal and lock people out of their data.[iv]
The second form of online scam that is increasing right now is online donation fraud. Online donations are floating around the internet to provide relief for people that are impacted by COVID-19, such as healthcare workers. However, this is capitalized by online scammers to profit them and not channel the donation to the people that need it. This method also correlates with the first point where there have been circulating emails about a fake WHO bitcoin donation wallet by using phishing emails.[v] That donation wallet is a part of a scam to get not only your money but also your bank account information. Another way to conduct online donation scams by posing as a reliable charitable organization and using names that sounds similar to real charities.[vi] This resulted in unknowing donators giving money to scammers instead of the real charities.
Lastly is the rise of counterfeit or undelivered products. There is a rise in panic buying due to the virus, especially on in-demand products such as cleaning, household, and medical supplies. And more people are trying to sell those products at an astronomical price to benefit over people’s panic buying. Scammers are also seizing this situation to scam people. Some people who fall into this scam never receive the products that they ordered. The more fortunate ones are receiving the products, but they are not the same as the advertised ones. Some of the most sought after products that have been prevalent in this online scam are surgical masks, personal protective equipment, and hand sanitizers.[vii] Another form of this fraud is through fake products, mainly pertaining to fake COVID-19 vaccines, home test kits, and cures. Online retail giant Amazon has proactively removed more than a million products that claim to detect or cure COVID-19. They have also withdrawn products that are sold at very high prices to decrease the amount of price-gouging that is rampant in online shopping right now.[viii]
The ways that we can avoid these scams are firstly by being vigilant at what we browse on the internet. We shouldn’t click on emails or links from sources we don’t know and keep our anti-virus software updated to strengthen our computer security. For online donations, make sure to research and verify the organizations beforehand to search for charities with an established history and donation transparency. There are currently no cure or vaccines to COVID-19, so it is advisable not to buy those products as there is a high probability that it is fake. We also ought to be aware of the products that we are buying by checking the credibility of the seller or the testimonies of other customers. The article is written to highlight online scams that might have been overlooked by some, as public anxiety will continue to fuel the existence of such schemes. Bearing in mind the fact that most people are now using online means to study and work, it makes these scams easier to believe. By being more rational and smart in our internet usage, we can decrease the number of scams that are being perpetrated online.
Author: Jasmine Noor Andretha Putri
Editor: Amelinda Pandu Kusumaningtyas
Read more articles written by Jasmine Noor Andretha Putri
[i] Agacgfm.org. n.d. AGA – Fraud Triangle. [online] Available at: [Accessed 10 April 2020].
[ii] Bohner, T., 2020. Online Phishing, Scams Spike 667% Amid Coronavirus Outbreak. [online] Fox 5 Las Vegas. Available at: [Accessed 10 April 2020].
[iii] Vox, 2020. Why Coronavirus Scammers Can Send Fake Emails From The WHO. Available at: [Accessed 10 April 2020].
[iv] Tressler, C., 2020. FTC: Coronavirus Scams, Part 2. [online] Federal Trade Commission: Consumer Information. Available at: [Accessed 11 April 2020].
[v] Partz, H., 2020. Scammers Impersonate World Health Organization To Steal BTC COVID-19 Donations. [online] Cointelegraph. Available at: [Accessed 10 April 2020].
[vi] Tressler, 2020.
[vii] Laurenco, R., 2020. As Coronavirus Spreads, So Do Fraud And Scams. Here’S What To Watch For.. [online] Digital Commerce 360. Available at: [Accessed 11 April 2020]
[viii] Knutson, T., 2020. Amazon Says It’S Removed More Than One Million Products Making Fake Coronavirus Claims. [online] Forbes. Available at: [Accessed 10 April 2020].
