Watch Out for USB and Gift Card Scams

Since the pandemic began, cybercriminals have used it to trick people into giving up information or money. Some new scams involve sending USB drives and gift cards to individuals and businesses. Here's what to watch out for.

Malicious USB Drives

A cybercriminal group has reportedly sent mailings to some organizations that contained a fake letter from the Department of Health and Human Services and a USB drive. The fake letter said the drive had guidance about the pandemic. The USB actually contained malware that gave the cybercriminals access to the organization's network.

If you receive a USB drive in the mail or find one in a public place, do not insert it into your computer. Always assume that a USB drive from an unknown or unexpected source is malicious. Contact our Information Security Team at office_of_information_security@carilionclinic.org so they can make plans to safely scan it.

Fake Gift Cards

You have heard about scammers who trick people into buying gift cards. Did you know that scammers also send gift cards?

Fake gift cards have fraudulent bar codes; the cards can be sent by either email or mail. On a physical gift card, the scammer will place the fraudulent barcode over the real gift card barcode. When the card is activated, money is added to the scammer's account.

If you receive a gift card you’re not expecting, contact the sender by calling the individual or organization before activating it.

Questions?

If you receive a call, email or mailing that seems suspicious, do not give out any information. Let our Information Security team know about it by clicking the "Report Phish" button in Outlook (for emails) or by emailing office_of_information_security@carilionclinic.org (for other types of communication).