DUBLIN, Calif., March 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- COVID-19 has
not stopped malicious individuals from taking advantage of
difficult times to prey on vulnerable individuals. Unfortunately,
numerous scams have appeared to defraud businesses and individuals
in connection with COVID-19.
The global pandemic has caused enough headache and heartache for
everyone, including small and medium size businesses (SMBs) and
their employees. TriNet, a leading provider of comprehensive human
resources, is committed to helping its 18,000* SMB customers better
navigate through these unprecedented times.
According to TriNet Privacy Officer and Senior Corporate
Counsel, Lisa Waggoner, "Now more
than ever, we all need to be on high alert for scammers. TriNet
wants to make sure SMBs and their employees are made aware of this
new risk, especially now while so many are preoccupied and
concerned over the economy and protecting the health of their loved
ones. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is."
To help vulnerable businesses avoid additional havoc from online
fraudsters, TriNet has listed six essential steps for SMBs and
their employees to help recognize and prevent online scams that use
the Coronavirus as bait:
If an email sender is unknown, leave it alone: The
worldwide spread of the new Coronavirus is being used by attackers
against businesses and individuals in phishing scams designed to
scare people into clicking on links, opening malicious attachments,
or giving out confidential information. Be careful with
anything related to the Coronavirus: emails, attachments, social
media, and texts on your phone. Look out for possible subjects,
warnings and requests like:
- COVID-19 business loan - prequalified
- COVID-19 stimulus packages available now
- COVID-19 Confirm your business banking information
- Coronavirus infection warnings from your county
- Fake CDC or World Health Organization emails
- Alerts on keeping your children safe from Coronavirus
While some of these pieces of content may be factual, there will
be a number of scams related that seem legitimate but aren't. SMBs
should remind employees not to respond to messages like this – and
don't download anything or click on links in unsolicited emails.
Always remember to think before you click.
Use your voicemail – don't answer unknown callers: Human
social engineering scammers will take to the phone lines and use
COVID-19 as a topic to pull on heart strings and manipulate SMBs
and their employees into giving out confidential information.
- A common scam is a phone call or an email purporting to be from
a hospital that has treated a relative for COVID-19 and demanding
payment for treatment.
- Scammers are also calling to solicit donations for businesses,
individuals, groups and areas affected by COVID-19.
- Always make sure to validate the person on the other end of the
phone and avoid making any payments over the phone to someone you
don't know.
Remember: There's no known cure (yet): Scammers are
offering to sell fake COVID-19 testing kits, cures and vaccines.
Make sure you only deal with licensed medical professionals. If
there is a medical breakthrough with a cure you won't first hear
about it through an email.
When shopping, use known brands and stores: Online
shopping and business scams occur when scammers create fake online
stores, websites, social media accounts and email addresses where
they claim to sell products that are currently in high demand, such
as surgical masks, toilet paper, cleaning products and food. Always
be sure you are dealing with reputable stores before making any
purchases. Order from websites you already know and trust.
Click a link only after you've had a think: Scammers
are using COVID-19 emails to lure employees into downloading
malware on their corporate devices. This can compromise your
business network, an employee or customer's personal information
and the device itself. Employees should be reminded to never
click links or open attachments from an unknown source. Ensure the
anti-malware and anti-virus software on your computer is operating
and up to date.
Investment opportunity? Or profiteering scam
option? A recent Investor Alert from the SEC's
Office of Investor Education and Advocacy warns of internet
promotions, including on social media, claiming that the
products or services of publicly-traded companies can prevent,
detect or cure Coronavirus, and that the stock of these companies
will dramatically increase in value as a result. The alert
cautions that these promotions often take the form of so-called
"research reports" and make predictions of a specific "target
price." Investors are urged to be wary of these promotions and
to be aware of the substantial potential for fraud at this time.
Don't be fooled by too-good-to-be-true investment opportunities
tied to COVID-19. As with any investing you decide to do, be sure
you are thoroughly doing your research and speak with a financial
or stock professional if you have one.
About TriNet
TriNet (NYSE: TNET) provides small and
medium size businesses (SMBs) with full-service HR solutions
tailored by industry. To free SMBs from HR complexities, TriNet
offers access to human capital expertise, benefits, risk mitigation
and compliance, payroll and real-time technology. From Main Street
to Wall Street, TriNet empowers SMBs to focus on what matters
most—growing their business. TriNet, incredible starts here. For
more information, visit TriNet.com or follow us on Twitter.
* As of December 31,
2019
Investors:
|
Media:
|
Alex Bauer
|
Fatima
Afzal
|
TriNet
|
TriNet
|
Investorrelations@TriNet.com
|
Fatima.Afzal@TriNet.com/PR@TriNet.com
|
(510)
875-7201
|
(510)
875-7265
|
TriNet and the TriNet logo are registered trademarks
of TriNet. All other trademarks, service marks, registered
trademarks, or registered service marks are the property of their
respective owners.
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SOURCE TriNet