Beware! These Online Scammers Offering Fake Covid-19 Vaccines Can Prove Hazardous

By Shambhavi Singh: Maharashtra cyber cell has issued an advisory in connection to the warning released by the Interpol about a substantial increase in the numbers of cybercrime scams after the availability of Covid-19 vaccines approved for use. The officials also said that the organized crime network could target vaccine supply chains and create various unauthorized websites selling illegal or fake products.

Two pharmaceutical companies who were first in line for conditional approval for their Covid-19 vaccine reported that their documents were unlawfully accessed during a cyber attack on European Medicines Agency Server.

Pfizer and BioNTech said that documents related to their vaccine have been accessed but no systems have been breached in connection with this incident.

In the growing advancements regarding the entry of Covid-19 vaccinations in the market with promising results, ensuring the safety of the supply chain and identifying the illicit websites selling fake products will be mandatory. These fake or illegal medical supplies could lead to serious health issues.

The major cybersecurity concerns that have stepped up during quarantine are websites suspected of selling illicit medical equipment, and others including phishing and spamming software. The Interpol has till now identified 3,000 such websites, which have been planning ransomware attacks on various pharmaceutical manufacturers, spreading fake news and misinformation on social media.

The officials have appealed the people to follow cybersecurity guidelines to protect their sensitive data.  The guidelines ask people not to click on any links making doubtful claims like selling Covid-19 vaccines, free medical supplies, or providing unverified treatment and also ensure that all software applications and systems are up to date.