Beware Of Emails Offering Free COVID-19 Tests: Centre

New Delhi: The government on Sunday warned of a massive phishing attack that would look like official communication on COVID-19 pandemic and steal personal data and financial information.

The emails could come from ncov2019@gov.in, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team or CERT-In tweeted.

“The phishing campaign is expected to use malicious emails under the pretext of local authorities in charge of dispensing government-funded COVID-19 support initiatives. Such emails are designed to drive recipients towards fake websites where they are deceived into downloading malicious files or entering personal and financial information,” CERT-In said in a statement.

Phishing emails mimic trusted sites and organizations and dupe people’s data by installing malware, or even locking your computer and asking for ransom money.

These fake emails would claim free COVID-19 testing enticing them to provide personal data.

CERT-In has warned against opening attachments in such emails or clicking on any links.

Any unusual activity or attack should be reported immediately at incident@cert-in.org.in with logs and email headers, it added.