Digital Platforms Enabling Advertisers to Exploit Coronavirus Fears
As consumers face historic physical and economic threats posed by the spread of the COVID-19, commonly called the coronavirus, digital platforms are enabling shadowy sellers to market and sell medical masks at a time when they are in short supply for professionals on the front lines treating coronavirus patients. Digital Citizens Alliance and Coalition for a Safer Web researchers also found sellers promising “vaccines” and test kits, and the examples are clear attempts to prey on consumers’ fears and worries.
Coronavirus Reports/Infographics
A Shot from the Darkest Corners of the Internet
DOMAINS OF DANGER: How Website Speculators and Registrars Trade Internet Safety for Profit
Facebook Enables Advertisers to Exploit Coronavirus Fears
Youtube Enabling (Maybe Validating) Shadowy Sellers of Medical Masks and Bogus Vaccines
Letters to the FTC and Department of Justice
- Federal Trade Commission, Chairman, Joseph J. Simon - Facebook Letter
- Federal Trade Commission, Chairman, Joseph J. Simon - Youtube Letter
- U.S Department of Justice, Attorney General, William Barr - Facebook Letter
- U.S Department of Justice, Attorney General, William Barr - Youtube Letter
Coronavirus Press Releases
The Presence of Piracy Devices and Apps in the Home Make Users 3 Times More Likely to Report Issues With Malware – Creating Potential New Vulnerabilities for Corporate, Government, Military, Finance, and Medical Personnel Using Home Networks Washington, DC – Tuesday, February 23, 2021 – Millions of Americans who are conducting sensitive
Read MoreScam Artists Using Social Media To Market Illegal Sales of COVID-19 Vaccines to U.S. Consumers
New Research from the Digital Citizens Alliance and the Coalition for a Safer Web Finds Shady Vaccine Offerings on Facebook and Telegram Washington, DC – Tuesday, February 9, 2021 – The extreme demand and limited supply of COVID-19 vaccines has created a marketplace of shady operators trying to sell coronavirus “vaccines” on social
Read MoreCDC-Branded Resources Embedded on YouTube Pages from Shadowy Sellers Heightens Concerns about Confusing and Tricking Consumers Research Findings to be Shared with U.S. Department of Justice Washington, DC, Friday, April 3, 2020 – YouTube, whether unwilling or unable, is enabling dubious sellers to push face masks and fraudulent
Read MoreWASHINGTON, DC, March 19, 2020 – Facebook has shown it is unable to prevent advertisements hawking a variety of coronavirus products to include medical masks, test kits and even “vaccines,” and it is time that the U.S. Department of Justice steps in swiftly to hold bad actors, who take advantage of consumer fears and anxieties,
Read MoreCoronavirus Blogs
Federal law enforcement officials have disrupted “hundreds of fraudulent websites” that were exploiting fears about coronavirus, including maliciously posing as government agencies ...
Read MoreBeware of COVID-19 Scams:
DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY CLICK THAT LINK! In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, internet scams are increasing exponentially, with online crooks and con-artists seeking to lure unwary victims by posing ...
Read MoreCoronavirus In The News
The Cybersecurity 202: Internet domain names are ripe for scam during coronavirus crisis
There Are Plenty Of COVID-19 Advice Videos On YouTube, But Which Ones Should You Trust?
Scammers and grifters are hawking face masks and fake coronavirus vaccines on YouTube as the platform fails to moderate its content yet again_copy