Avoiding Scams During COVID-19

As the world works to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, people are trying to find trustworthy information about the spread of the disease, how they can protect themselves, how they can get tested, and more. The spammers and scammers of the world, of course, are using the current situation to take advantage of people, including many seniors who are less familiar with technology and the ways of these internet tricksters.

Here at Bristol Glen in Sussex County New Jersey, we’ve seen a few different types of scams making their rounds and our associates remain on the alert to help our residents stay cyber safe.

Phishing without a Fishing Pole?

One of the most common types of scams is called a “phishing” scam (like “fishing”; get it?) In this type of scam, someone sends an unsolicited email, text message to you. The message tries to scare you into clicking on a link and then give away your personal information.

There are many variations of this basic scam, that leverage the general fear around COVID-19:

• Fabricated notices from health organizations (e.g., the CDC or local/state health departments)
• Fake updates from an employer about policies or procedures to address the risk
• Phony websites containing maps and dashboards
• Information about protecting yourself, your children or your community that contains malicious links or attachments
• Charitable appeals to help victims of the virus which are not legitimate
• Special deals on hand sanitizer or masks or even drugs that prevent the virus
  
  

Coronavirus offers a particular opportunity for fraudsters and scammers because there’s so much information flying around at the moment, and it’s hard to know what’s correct. Scammers capitalize on that uncertainty, the information overload, and the general anxiety we’re all feeling.

Recognizing COVID-19 Scams

You don’t have to be a computer expert to stay cyber safe during COVID-19. With a little know-how and a little common sense, 99% of the phishing scams you encounter can be avoided. Here’s a mental checklist you should go through whenever you read any kind of an email with a link in it:

1. Look at the sender’s email address, not just the name. It is easy to fake a name but not easy to face a domain. For instance, a message from sales@apple.com is probably legit but a message from apple.423952934820390J.com IS NOT VALID. Below is an example of a spammer trying to pretend to be Apple. Both the sender email address and the recipient address are suspect.
   
   
2. Never open attachments in strange emails. This is how spammers can get malicious software to load on your computer.
   
   
3. Spam emails are often composed by people who aren’t native English speakers. You should be wary if you pick up some of the following mistakes:

• Poor spelling
• Clumsy phrasing
• Bad grammar
• Incorrect spacing on emails
  
  

4. Examine the URL of any link you click on carefully. Never click on a link in an email that says “Click here”. Make sure the domain of any link you click on is trusted. You can usually see the link behind the text by hovering your mouse pointer over it.
   
   
5. Make sure your computer and your phone are all up-to-date. A lot of scams will also try to get malware onto your phone, laptop or desktop computer. Make sure you perform regular updates. If your device needs anti-virus software – and that’s Windows, Macs, and Android devices – make sure that’s up-to-date as well.

Most importantly, If you think you have been scammed, report it to the police immediately. Most companies have a place you can also report scams that occur in their name. If your financial information or your bank’s have been involved, let your bank or credit card provider know immediately.

Senior Communities Like UMC are on the Front Lines, Preventing Scams

Because senior citizens are more susceptible to internet and technology scams, our associates remain on the alert to help residents avoid and catch any attempts that would make them victims of online scammers. It’s part of keeping them safe.

For more information on our senior assisted living Sussex County New Jersey, please contact us today or visit our website at https://bristolglen.umcommunities.org

Original content posted on https://umcommunities.org/blog/avoiding-scams-during-covid-19/

Reasons for Optimism Amid COVID-19

Right now, the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) is the main topic of conversation across New Jersey and across America. During this time, it is reasonable to feel overwhelmed and negative, focusing on worst-case scenarios.

Even though in this moment the pandemic is far from over, there are still positive outcomes around the world and progress being made against the virus, giving us hope that sooner, rather than later, it will be an unpleasant memory.

The Curve is flattening.

Social distancing, where practiced, is working. Although uncomfortable and inconvenient, it is saving lives. Current trends in New Jersey and New York, as well as globally, are moving in a positive direction.

• China has recently announced a severe reduction in new cases.
  
  
• Singapore acted fast and managed to contain the virus’s spread even without the extreme measures taken by most countries.
  
  
• Hong Kong and Taiwan had a SARS epidemic in 2002, which prepared them to invest time and resources into dealing with future outbreaks. Their previous experience helped them tackle the virus confidently.
  
  
• Currently Germany and Denmark are starting to reopen small shops and schools, while reports state that many countries have now passed their peaks of new cases.
  
  

A Vaccine is Underway. Several Actually.

Scientists around the world are working around the clock to find a coronavirus vaccine. To expedite the process, much of the red tape associated with normal vaccine approval cycles have been removed.

• Clinical trials that test methods to boost our immune system against the coronavirus are happening in China.
  
  
• Biotech company Moderna has started the first US clinical trials for a potential vaccine and seen positive results during their phase 1 trial.
  
  
• A Pennsylvania biotech company is generating strands of DNA hoping it will stimulate an immune response.
  
  
• Johnson & Johnson and French pharmaceutical giant, Sanofi together with the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, are working on a vaccine. Sanofi plans to mix coronavirus DNA with genetic material from a harmless virus, while Johnson & Johnson will attempt to deactivate SARS-CoV-2 and switch off its ability to cause illness.
  
  
• Another potential coronavirus vaccine, developed by the University of Oxford, entered the human trial stage. The United Kingdom government has pledged £20m to support the Oxford University trial and £22.5m to support another trial at Imperial College. According to Oxford, the best-case scenario is that by autumn 2020, researchers would have an efficacy result from the tests to show whether the vaccine protects against the virus or not.
  
  
• Mercedes Formula 1 engineers have joined hands with the University College London to develop a breathing device that can be used on patients instead of having to place them in intensive care on a ventilator.
  
  

People are recovering.

Thanks to our front line workers and medical staff, more than half a million people are recovering from COVID -19.

• Doctors in India have successfully treated infected patients with a mixture of drugs usually used to tackle HIV, swine flu, and malaria.
  
  
• Doctors in China and Japan used blood plasma from people who have recovered from COVID-19 to treat newly-infected patients and had significant results.
  
  
• Catching the virus is not always fatal for the elderly. According to reports,106-year-old Connie Titchen recovered from the infection in the UK, as well as 102-year-old Italica Grondona in Italy. A 103-year-old Chinese woman also recovered.
  
  
• Vint Cerf, who is 76, tweeted on April 3: “Good news – VA Public Health has certified my wife and me are no longer contagious with COVID19. Recovering!”
  
  

Assisted living communities are protecting residents

Despite the early difficulties of certain assisted living communities around the country, many have implemented actions to protect their residents. See this article, on the state of safety inside Assisted Living communities and why UMC has been so successful in keeping cases to a minimum among its residents and associates.

To find out more about our assisted living community, please visit our website at https://pitman.umcommunities.org/contact us today or book a personal tour.

Original content posted on: https://umcommunities.org/blog/reasons-for-optimism-amid-covid-19/