• Be Aware
    • Hazards
      • Earthquake
      • Extreme Cold
      • Extreme Heat
      • Flooding
        • Turn Around – Don’t Drown
      • Hazardous Spills
      • High Winds
      • Ice Storm
      • Lightning
      • Power Outages
        • Generator Safety
      • Severe Thunderstorms
      • Tornado
    • Radio Lexington
    • Get Involved
      • CERT
    • CSEPP
      • History of CSEPP
      • CSEPP in Kentucky
      • Blue Grass Army Depot
      • Chemical Agent Disposal
      • CSEPP in Fayette County
      • Zones
    • Get the BeReadyLexington app
    • NOAA Weather Radio
    • Outdoor Warning Sirens
      • Siren FAQ
    • How to Be Prepared for Emergencies – American Sign Language
    • Newsletter
  • Make a Plan
    • Equine Preparedness Plans
    • Farm Preparedness
    • Pet Preparedness Plans
    • Senior Preparedness Plans
    • Hazard Mitigation Plan
    • Shelter in Place Plans
    • Special Events-How to get a permit
    • Travel Plans
    • Utility Shutoff Plans
    • En Español
    • Ready Kat
  • Build an Emergency Kit
    • Your financial emergency kit
    • Vehicle Emergency Kits
    • Emergency Kits
    • Home Emergency Kits
    • Pet Emergency Kits
  • About Us
    • News
    • What We Do
    • Emergency Operations Center
    • Contact
    • Staff Biographies
    • Training
Be Ready Lexington
  • Be Aware
    • Hazards
      • Earthquake
      • Extreme Cold
      • Extreme Heat
      • Flooding
        • Turn Around – Don’t Drown
      • Hazardous Spills
      • High Winds
      • Ice Storm
      • Lightning
      • Power Outages
        • Generator Safety
      • Severe Thunderstorms
      • Tornado
    • Radio Lexington
    • Get Involved
      • CERT
    • CSEPP
      • History of CSEPP
      • CSEPP in Kentucky
      • Blue Grass Army Depot
      • Chemical Agent Disposal
      • CSEPP in Fayette County
      • Zones
    • Get the BeReadyLexington app
    • NOAA Weather Radio
    • Outdoor Warning Sirens
      • Siren FAQ
    • How to Be Prepared for Emergencies – American Sign Language
    • Newsletter
  • Make a Plan
    • Equine Preparedness Plans
    • Farm Preparedness
    • Pet Preparedness Plans
    • Senior Preparedness Plans
    • Hazard Mitigation Plan
    • Shelter in Place Plans
    • Special Events-How to get a permit
    • Travel Plans
    • Utility Shutoff Plans
    • En Español
    • Ready Kat
  • Build an Emergency Kit
    • Your financial emergency kit
    • Vehicle Emergency Kits
    • Emergency Kits
    • Home Emergency Kits
    • Pet Emergency Kits
  • About Us
    • News
    • What We Do
    • Emergency Operations Center
    • Contact
    • Staff Biographies
    • Training
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • YouTube

  • RSS

COVID-19

“Business Email Compromise Scam” becoming an issue due to COVID-19

“Business Email Compromise Scam” becoming an issue due to COVID-19
John Bobel
April 10, 2020

A woman working for an insurance firm here in Lexington, Kentucky was almost scammed by someone pretending to be her boss and asking her to spend $800 on Google Play cards.

The woman said the person emailing her had her bosses name in the contact, and she was also personally addressed by name.  Once she emailed her “boss” her number, the scammer immediately texted her and requested she spend her money on gift cards, scratch off the backs so that the code was visible, and send them pictures of the cards.

“This con is known as the Business Email Compromise (BEC) scam,” said Heather Clary, BBB Director of Communications.  “A scammer poses as a reliable source who emails from a spoofed or hacked account to an employee, asking him or her to wire funds or buy gift cards. With so many people working remotely because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it would be easy for an employee to fall for this scam.”

Due to increased frequency in scamming attempts, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is asking businesses to have policies in place that have requests for financial information verified first.

The BBB also would like phone numbers to be used as confirmation.  If numbers are not on file, do not follow the request.  if you are emailed, call the number that is on file to contact that person.

Don’t let your business or someone who works for you be next in a BEC scam attempt.  BBB State of Cyber Security is a free source and helps to make sure your business is secure.  Take a stand against scamming and protect your business and staff.

If you or a loved one would like to report scams to the BBB scam tracker, here is a link: www.bbb.org/scamtracker.

For more scam warnings that revolve around COVID-19, you can visit:  www.bbb.org/coronavirus.

Related Items
COVID-19
April 10, 2020
John Bobel

Related Items

More in COVID-19

KY COVID-19 Positivity Rate Drops Below 10%

John BobelJanuary 25, 2021
Read More
COVID Testing

COVID-19 Testing Sites-Jan. 25-31

John BobelJanuary 25, 2021
Read More
Covid 19 Medical

KY COVID-19 Positivity Rate Drops Below 11%

John BobelJanuary 23, 2021
Read More
ICE room with Coronavirus patients

Kentucky Report Highest Daily Number of COVID-19 Deaths

John BobelJanuary 22, 2021
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap
Be Ready Lexington

Copyright © 2018.

April is National Safe Digging Month!
KY COVID19 Update – 5pm, Thursday, April 9