The Office of the Attorney General William Tong

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Attorney General William Tong

03/31/2020

Attorney General Tong Releases Guidance on Cybersecurity During COVID-19 Pandemic

Attorney General William Tong today released cyber safety tips to keep in mind during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With cyber scams related to COVID-19 on the rise, the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General is working to educate the public on ways they can protect themselves online.

“While we all practice social distancing, it’s important that we practice internet safety too. The public should be on the lookout for COVID-19 related emails, websites and social media posts that may contain malicious attachments or hyperlinks. Bad actors create fraudulent websites, emails and social media posts as a way to steal your personal and financial information. If anyone receives a suspicious hyperlink, email, phone call or social media post, contact my office immediately at 860-808-5000,” said Attorney General Tong.

The Office of the Attorney General has received complaints regarding phishing attempts in the form of text messages, asking consumers to reply in order to receive monetary relief in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Consumers have also filed complaints with the Office of the Attorney General about phone calls from scammers who offer fraudulent stimulus packages for local businesses.

Connecticut residents should remember these tips to avoid cyber scams:

  • Do not click on links in unsolicited emails and be cautious before opening any email attachments.

  • Be wary of electronic communications claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and other health care or government authorities offering information about the virus.

  • Be on alert for messages that request your personal information in exchange for financial relief or other government-issued benefits. Government agencies will not reach out to you electronically for this information.

  • Make sure to verify a charity’s authenticity before making a donation.

  • Use legitimate, government-sponsored websites for up-to-date information about COVID-19.

The Coronavirus Cyber Safety Tips and Tricks Guidance is available here.
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Media Contact:

Elizabeth Benton
elizabeth.benton@ct.gov
860-214-0937 (cell)

Consumer Inquiries:

860-808-5318
attorney.general@ct.gov