Coronavirus Financial Safety
Coronavirus Scams: Stay Alert!
Knowing about possible coronavirus scams is a good first step toward protecting yourself and your money. Unfortunately, during these uncertain times, fraudsters are trying to capitalize on anxiety about the coronavirus to manipulate individuals into helping them steal online credentials and swindle funds. Here are some tips to help you avoid becoming a victim.
Watch out for phishing scams.
- Communications from sources that do not usually send you emails or text messages, even if they appear to be a legitimate organization, could be phishing attempts.
- While you should expect to receive communications about Covid-19 from news sites and organizations that you have opted into and do business with, watch out for communications from organizations that you have never heard from before.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), for example, will not send unsolicited emails to anyone who hasn’t asked to hear from them.
Never provide your password, PIN, or bank account number in response to an unsolicited communication.
- Burke & Herbert Bank (and other financial institutions) will not contact you to ask for your login or private account information.
Treat emails or texts with overly insistent messages with caution.
- Be wary of communications that seem to pressure you into clicking on a link or an attachment.
Do some research before making a donation.
- Contributing money toward coronavirus relief is a worthy cause, but before making your donation, check to make sure the requesting organization is legitimate. Be wary of requests for donations in cash, by gift card, or by wire transfer.
Ignore online offers for Covid-19 tests, cures or treatments.
- Legitimate tests, cures or treatments for the disease would not be communicated through unsolicited emails or online ads. Communications like these likely are attempts to collect money from you fraudulently.
Be alert and be safe
If you believe that you may have received a fraudulent communication from someone posing as Burke & Herbert Bank or you believe that your account number, password, or other card or account information may have been compromised, please call us immediately at 703-684-1655.
