Cyber Corner: Disaster Relief Scams

When a natural disaster strikes, many people rely on insurance providers for disaster relief to help them pay for damages to property. Unfortunately, cybercriminals can take advantage of this vulnerable situation by manipulating you into sharing sensitive information.

In a recent scam, cybercriminals call you and pretend to be an agent from your insurance provider. They use a spoofed phone number so the call seems legitimate. The cybercriminals claim that they need your personal information, such as your insurance account details, to reimburse you for damages. If you share this information with them, you won’t receive disaster relief. Instead, the cybercriminals can use your account details to impersonate you and steal your reimbursement.

Follow the tips below to keep your sensitive information safe from disaster relief scams:

• Verify that messages are legitimate before taking action. Contact the organization directly by using another line of communication.
• Never trust your caller ID. Cybercriminals can spoof phone numbers to impersonate someone else.

Don’t share personal information, such as insurance details, in an unexpected phone call. Instead, log in to your insurance provider’s website or contact them directly to share any necessary information safely.