Beware of These Coronavirus Email Scams
They’re Still Around!
While it seems like the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic might be behind us, that doesn’t mean we should let our guard down completely — especially when it comes to internet scams designed to prey on the fear and uncertainty brought on by the pandemic. It’s no surprise that scammers have found ways to use the coronavirus scare as an opportunity to steal personal information from the vulnerable. Fortunately, you can spot coronavirus scammers using the same techniques that help identify otherwise run-of-the-mill phishing scams. Requests for Personal Information When the federal government started distributing relief checks, several scammers sent out unsolicited emails, disguised as legitimate instructions, asking for personal information from people in order to receive their $1,200. Since many people have now received their checks, this particular scam may become less common, but always be suspicious of emails that ask for personal information, no matter the circumstances. Suspicious Links and Email Addresses During the past few months, people’s email inboxes have been littered with advertisements for fake coronavirus tests and cures, fake alerts from government agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and fake coronavirus updates. If you get an email containing an unusual
link in your inbox, do not click on it — even if the email address looks legitimate. Scammers use links to spread malware on computers, which helps them get your personal information. Spelling and Grammar Mistakes This is usually a dead giveaway. While genuine, official updates about the coronavirus will be meticulously checked for spelling and grammar, scammers aren’t as careful. Missing periods, misspelled words, and wacky syntax errors are all hallmarks of scam emails. Make sure you carefully read any email you’re not sure about. If you can spot spelling and grammar mistakes, delete the email. Much like the coronavirus will remain in the American psyche long after cases and deaths have peaked, scammers will continue using it as a means to steal from honest, hardworking Americans. But, if we keep our guard up, we can make sure they get absolutely nothing from their efforts.
WHY IDLENESS IS BETTER FOR YOUR PRODUCTIVITY It’s Okay to Be Lazy Sometimes
As businesses open back up and things seem to be getting back to normal, you might be happy just to have opportunities to be productive again at work. The quarantine left everyone a little stir-crazy, but it also left us with some important lessons about a productive mindset — mainly, that it’s not always beneficial to have one. Millions of business owners across the country had to close up shop for several weeks, or even months, without any other way to fill that time. If you were one of those business owners, what did you do during that time? Did you spend hours every day fidgeting, wondering if you were doing everything you could to make sure your business came out of the pandemic okay? If so, you weren’t alone. That stress was most likely a result of your mind trying to be productive at a time when nothing was on your to-do list. A productive mindset is a great asset in the workplace, but it can become
a burden when there’s nothing to do. So, the next time you find yourself in a productive mindset with nothing to do, remember this: It’s okay to be intentionally lazy sometimes . This advice comes straight from productivity expert Chris Bailey, the author of “Hyperfocus: How to Be More Productive in a World of Distraction” and “The Productivity Project: Accomplishing More by Managing Your Time, Attention, and Energy.” That’s right — a productivity expert is advising you to do nothing, or be intentionally lazy. Bailey’s logic is as follows: When you’re properly idle, your mind can wander and, according to researchers, become better at problem- solving and creative thinking. You can use your idle time to plan for the future and come up with new ideas you otherwise might not have thought of.
It may seem counterintuitive, but it works. So, while no one is hoping for another reason to involuntarily close down their business, if it does happen, you can rest easy knowing you don’t have to feel anxious. Just let your mind wander and see what happens!
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