The federal government has implemented a program in which each household can order four free COVID-19 test kits through the United States Postal Service (USPS). This is a perfect opportunity for scammers to spoof the USPS site to try to obtain personal information from unwary users.

It is very easy to order the four tests, and all you have to provide to register for the tests to be sent to you is your name and your address. NOTHING ELSE.

If you land on a website that looks like a website offering the free COVID-19 tests through USPS, but which asks for any personal information (such as date of birth, driver’s license number, or Social Security number), you are being targeted by scammers trying to obtain your personal information for fraudulent purposes. To learn more about how to protect yourself from fraud and to obtain the official link for free COVID-19 tests, click here.

 

Photo of Linn Foster Freedman Linn Foster Freedman

Linn Freedman practices in data privacy and security law, cybersecurity, and complex litigation. She is a member of the Business Litigation Group and the Financial Services Cyber-Compliance Team, and chairs the firm’s Data Privacy and Security and Artificial Intelligence Teams. Linn focuses her…

Linn Freedman practices in data privacy and security law, cybersecurity, and complex litigation. She is a member of the Business Litigation Group and the Financial Services Cyber-Compliance Team, and chairs the firm’s Data Privacy and Security and Artificial Intelligence Teams. Linn focuses her practice on compliance with all state and federal privacy and security laws and regulations. She counsels a range of public and private clients from industries such as construction, education, health care, insurance, manufacturing, real estate, utilities and critical infrastructure, marine and charitable organizations, on state and federal data privacy and security investigations, as well as emergency data breach response and mitigation. Linn is an Adjunct Professor of the Practice of Cybersecurity at Brown University and an Adjunct Professor of Law at Roger Williams University School of Law.  Prior to joining the firm, Linn served as assistant attorney general and deputy chief of the Civil Division of the Attorney General’s Office for the State of Rhode Island. She earned her J.D. from Loyola University School of Law and her B.A., with honors, in American Studies from Newcomb College of Tulane University. She is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Read her full rc.com bio here.