If you or your business receive an email from Comcover titled Non-refundable loan approved for your company!, delete it—it is a dangerous hoax and opening its attachment will download malicious software onto your computer.
SCAMwatch warns that scammers are continuing to use the Australian Government’s stimulus package to try to steal money and personal information. A favourite way is to try to scam you by sending emails that purport to come from legitimate sources.
Using a spoofed email address that looks like it comes from Comcover, the email announces 'Comcover—Insurance Solutions, Risk Management Strategies from the Better Australian Government Business, is contacting you to inform you that you qualify for the $50,000.00 economical crisis support for Australian privately-owned firms'.
The email asks you to download and complete the form attached to the email and fax it back to a number nominated in the email, and says that within a maximum of three working days you will be contacted with the details you need to receive the support loan.
Under no circumstances should you open the attachment—once you do you will compromise your computer by downloading a piece of malware known as a Trojan. A Trojan can open your computer up to unauthorised access by a third party to be used for a number of illegal operations such as relaying spam.
Comcover is the Australian Government's general insurance fund and is not responsible for the distribution of any stimulus package funds.
Protect yourself
- Never open attachments or click on links in unsolicited emails—delete the email.
- Even if an unsolicited email appears to be legitimate, check through a separate contact source such as the website’s own contact email, which you should access by going to the website itself from your own favourites list or a search engine.
- Never follow the link or use the contact details in an unsolicited email.
- Most reputable businesses do not ask for personal details via emails; it is also unlikely that they will change your password without your prior consent.
- Never provide personal information to someone you do not know or trust.
- Ensure that all computers have up-to-date protection from viruses and other malware plus a good firewall; you should also install a reputable spam filter.
- If you notice that your computer is behaving oddly (e.g. processing too slowly or you receive abusive emails from people who may be being spammed from your email accounts), your computer may be infected. Some malicious software may be difficult to remove and you may need the assistance from a computer/IT specialist.
- Any computer used to open the attachment or follow the link in a scam email should be checked by a reputable IT specialist for malware.
As well as following these specific tips, find out how to protect yourself from all sorts of other scams.
Report
Visit SCAMwatch to report a scam, or report the matter to ACMA’s spam link via its website http://www.acma.gov.au/.
More information
Explore SCAMwatch for more information about Requests for your account information ('phishing' scams), spyware and key loggers and identity theft.