Corona Virus Treatment

Passed on from my daughter: I'm getting lots of emails from companies, Tesco, Sains, Virgin mobile etc about what they are doing to alleviate problems and still provide us services etc, and I've had it drummed into me at work, as accounts payable, to watch out for fraudulent emails, calls etc. So I'm sure fraudsters are going to attempt to take advantage of people in a blind panic at the moment, so always think twice before clicking on links, giving out personal info over the phone, clicking links in messages, even if it's come from a number you've received legitimate messages from before, take a moment to think. Then check your account independently, open a new browser, Google the correct phone number, don't trust what an email tells you

 

I agree with all above.

Your first, best, reaction to receiving emails or phone calls is that they are not genuine. Genuine organisations will not ask you for personal info or to click on important links.

The best way to handle them is to think that they might be right but act as though they aren't. Then either go through your normal channels to check, or if you don't have any normal channels then check on line for them and go to their info links. Info shouldn't ask you for any personal details but give email or phone numbers that you can use.

 

Re the virus: there are a lot of myths and misinformation about it as there is so little known about it. Apparently there are a number of articles going round social media that combine genuine precautions and warnings with total myths.

One list of items that Mrs Shiney was sent by email seemed to have some very good information until I read down as far as the one that said the virus can't live for more than two hours on surfaces!

It can survive for days depending on what type of surface and the conditions it is in. Research, so far, has shown it can survive longer in lower temperatures and this is where, I think, the myth that higher temperatures kill comes from. On some surfaces it seems to last longer than others and stainless steel seems to be one of the bad ones.

 

I'm getting emails from companies I never have had any dealings with. They resemble those from the many supermarket emails that are doing the rounds now but subtly changed.

 

Facebook, Twitter etc are dangerous places full of ill-informed people and many who are just there to do harm. Sadly some of my trusted Facebook friends are sometimes fooled and share dubious stories, it's difficult to avoid seeing the posts. I tend just to stick to close family events and news that are private, which is less and less as our family use WhatsApp to keep in touch.

 

Just on the email / scam theme - if you didn't request it, delete it!

 

Good morning everyone

China on Thursday reported no new local infections for the first time since the coronavirus crisis began three months ago, reaching a milestone in its battle with the deadly outbreak that has upended daily life and economic activity around the world.

 

To be honest, I don't pick up on my landline phone until they speak on the Answer Phone and I can identify who they are....and then I decide if I'm going to pick up the phone. What usually happens with "cold" callers is a silence or someone asking "Hello, Hello, is somebody there?" and then they are gone. My Mobile phone is only known to Work and selected colleagues, family and friends so I don't get Spam or cold calls on that. I have some friends who just pick up the landline phone or their mobile phone without even checking who's calling and then they get annoyed when it's a cold caller!