Stay Business Smart
As a business owner, you must remain diligent with your cyber security during this time. As if trying to maintain an income and keep your business afloat isn't enough...I know. But just be warned that small businesses will be targets for on-going scams. And between the SBA and any potential Congressional relief that develops, please know these will become a primary angle scammers mimic to take advantage of this situation.
EMAIL SCAMS
Not a new technique, but one I've already seen in the last few days, is an email made to resemble an invoice. The subject line will be brief, as though you've done business with the sender for year, and there will be a legitimate looking attachment of an invoice. Generally speaking, once you open the attachment, it could attempt to download information-stealing access to your computer. It could also ask you to click a link to view or pay the invoice. Once clicked, it may lead you to log in to something familiar, like a fake Office 365 page, with the intent of harvesting your log in credentials.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
It always sounds too simple to be true, but simply slow down. The phishers behind these attempts are banking on your moving quickly during the constant influx of news we're receiving each day, multi-tasking as you respond to the world, and accidentally clicking on something you never would have during normal, day-to-day operations. Simply slow down and give your full focus to your business when attempting to do business.
SMS/TEXT SCAMS
By now, you've surely received cold texts from scammers not even directed at your business. A random text will appear on your phone asking you to click a link. Some of the messages will appear as a regular subscription service many of us receive—think FedEx updates on your package or alerts about sports events, etc... The message can mimic a delivery or availability update (that probably won't apply to you) and end with the standard default, "To opt out, text STOP." This can be tricky because you want it to stop, but you don't want to follow their instructions.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Directing you to opt out by responding is the trap. These attempts will also increase under the same assumption that you are operating under heightened circumstances and putting out fires at each turn.
Again, simply slow down. Know who your contacts are and who would actually be contacting you via SMS/Text. Once you determine the above approaches (or another similar form) is an attempt to scam you, simply block the number from reaching your phone, and then delete the text message so you don't accidentally land on it in the future. Yes you may still receive more from new sources and while it's one more thing for you to do, you can easily block the number for each new one and delete. Do not text STOP or click any links.
ONLINE RESOURCES
Here are a few trusted resources you can check for more information and/or steps for blocking phone numbers if you aren't sure how to use your iPhone or Android's native ability to block callers.
1. https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2018/02/phishers-send-fake-invoices
2. https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-report-spam-text-messages
3. https://www.cnet.com/how-to/heres-how-to-stop-those-annoying-text-message-scams/
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