FBI PIN: Cybersecurity Criminals Take Advantage of COVID-19 Pandemic to Target Teleworking Employees through Fake Termination Phishing Emails and Meeting Invites

The FBI has published a Private Industry Notification advising that cyber criminals are targeting teleworking employees with fraudulent termination phishing emails and virtual teleconference meeting invites, citing COVID-19 as the reason. Employees who are alarmed by the message may not scrutinize the spoofed email address that looks similar to their company’s legitimate one. The emails entice victims to click on malicious links purporting to provide more information or online conferences pertaining to the victim’s termination or severance packages. The FBI encourages companies to alert their employees to look for emails coming from Human Resources or management with spoofed email domains. The PIN provides lists of indicators of this activity and a series of recommendations for companies and their employees. It also encourages anyone who observes suspicious or criminal activity to report it to the FBI via CyWatch, which can be contacted by phone at (855)292-3937 or email at Cy*****@*bi.gov, or via their local FBI field office.