Cyber criminals are taking advantage of the COVID-19 health emergency by conducting cyberattacks against businesses, government entities, hospitals, and the public. Many of these attacks may try to impersonate trusted brands, like the city of Phoenix, to create legitimacy in deceptive spam, phishing, and more advanced attacks.
As the city continues to serve the public during this extremely challenging time, residents and businesses are encouraged to remain vigilant when sharing personal and financial information online.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
• Be cautious of links in emails, even from known contacts. There are many websites claiming to have the latest COVID-19 data or live COVID maps, etc. Only browse known websites and resist clicking on unfamiliar links, even if those links were sent by someone you know.
• Be suspicious of wire transfer payment requests. The city of Phoenix does not request wire transfer payments from residents or businesses. If you receive a suspicious financial request from someone claiming to be with the city, immediately stop and verify it with the appropriate department.
• Get reliable information directly from the source. The impact of COVID-19 has created temporarily changes to some city services, and departments continue to release updates to ensure the public has reliable information. Visit phoenix.gov/newsroom for current coronavirus city news, as well as resident and business resources.
