• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Jobs
  • Career
    • Cyber Security Training
    • Work from Home
    • Cyber Security Analyst
    • Remote Work – Six Ways to Keep Your Data Safe When Working Remotely
  • Field Guide
  • Newsletter Signup
  • Deals
  • News
AskCyberSecurity.com

AskCyberSecurity.com

Cyber Security News & Information

  • Home
  • Data Privacy
    • Gamers
    • Government Cyber Security
      • Legislation
      • Standards
        • What are the risks of computer security?
        • Medical Cyber Security
    • Social Media
  • Security
    • Data Breaches
    • Scams
    • Malware
  • Software
    • Apps
    • Web Browsers
  • Glossary
    • Cyber Security Acronyms
  • About Ask Cyber Security
    • Authors
    • Contact Us
  • VPN
    • How Do I Know If My VPN is Working?
    • Best Free VPN iPhone
    • Why Use a VPN?
    • NordVPN vs IPVanish
    • Private Internet Access Download
    • Best VPN for Streaming
      • TikTok VPN
    • VPN Porn
    • Computer Security Software – What You Really Need
  • Tutorials
  • ChatGPT
    • Does ChatGPT Save Data?
AskCyber Home » News » Government Cyber Security » US GSA Warns of COVID-19 Fraud and Price Gouging

US GSA Warns of COVID-19 Fraud and Price Gouging

2020-03-19 by Max

US General Services Administration (GSA) Warns of COVID-19 Fraud and Price Gouging as Coronavirus Related Scams Increase

The US General Services Administration (GSA) is waning that companies are representing themselves as GSA approved vendors in an attempt to profiteer from Coronavirus related sales. In an email, GSA also stated that companies are attempting to price gauge US government agencies for products related to the outbreak. All government buyers are cautioned to take the time to verify the vendors status and pricing schedule with the GSA Procurement system.

Companies attempting to exploit legitimate COVID-19 concerns to mislead govenrment buyers and consumers into paying exorbitant prices for products associated with outbreak should be reported.

What Does GSA Do?

GSA manages vendors and services for all government agencies to make sure the US Government is not paying prices higher than market value. However, the US Government is notorious for overpaying for purchases.

GSA Fraud email COVID-19
GSA Fraud email COVID-19

What Does It Mean to Be GSA Approved?

When a company has GSA approval status that means is it authorized to sell goods and services to United States Government agencies through the U.S. General Services Administration. An approved company may also be described as being “on schedule” meaning the company has a GSA schedule of prices on file. The GSA Schedule is essentially a set of negotiated contracts that government agencies can shop from for standardized pricing.

Supplier status with the US governments procurement system can be verified on the GSA Advantage website. Supplies can also provide a contract number and supplier details which can be verified online at the GSA library vendor database.

Businesses can sell to the public and through the GSA system simultaneously. For example, Home Depot is on the GSA schedule.

What is General Services Administration or GSA?

The GSA acronym stands for the General Services Administration, an agency of the United States government. The General Services Administration is a federal agency of the United States government to qualify and manage procurement of goods and services for federal agencies. GSA also manages government buildings, real estate, and vehicles. US GSA is located in Washington, DC and was established in 1949

Fraudulent activity by companies claiming to be GSA vendors or price gouging by from authorized GSA vendors can be reported to GSA’s National Customer Service Center. Call 800-488-3111 or email NCSCcustomer.service@gsa.gov.

COVID-19 Email Scams

There have been numerous online scams related to the novel Coronavirus, COVID-19, outbreak including malware attacks and phishing scams targeting private citizens and healthcare workers. The GSA fraud is just another series of fraudulent activities. Early phishing emails were sent to citizens across Asia who were seeking information about COVID-19. The content of the phishing emails attempted to trick readers into thinking they were reading official communications from the World Health Organization (WHO.) The scam emails even contained some helpful statistics and details of outbreaks. Other emails positiontoned the content to make it appear that the content was from local authorities. These emails contained malicious attachments which launched malware campaigns if the readers opened the attachments.

More recent email scams have targeted healthcare workers, nursing homes, and hospitals.

COVID-19 Hacks

Hackers have ramped up scam tactics by registering thousands of Coronavirus related website domain names. Although some of these websites may be used for legitimate purposes, it is estimated that about one-third are hacker websites selling malware and stolen information.
One high-profile target, the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus tracking map, is a favorite for spoofed domain names.

State sponsored Advanced persistent threat (APT) groups are also jumping by sending Coronavirus themed phasing email to defense industries, embassies, and governments attempting to launch RAT malware.

Filed Under: Government Cyber Security Tagged With: GSA

About Max

Max is a Data Privacy Coordinator at a major global law firm and a science fiction author residing in the Philadelphia area. He has been writing for https://www.askcybersecurity.com since early 2017.


LinkedInTwitterFacebook

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to Our Free Newsletter

We Don't Share or Sell Your Info

Web Browsers

Where Are My Saved Passwords in Chrome?

Google Removes 70 Malicious Browser Add-ons from Chrome Web Store

Firefox 75 Reports Your Browser Settings to Mozilla

Categories

Cyber Security Field Guide

Computer Security While TravelingGet Our Cyber Security Field Guide - Available on Amazon!

Recent Posts

Security Marketing Manager – Remote

Sr. Associate, Cybersecurity Architect – Pfizer

Strategic Customer Success Manager – Cybersecurity – Opportunity for Working Remotely

Top 20 Passwords Leaked on Dark Web

ISU Cybersecurity Leader Job Opening

Cyber Security News

Top 20 Passwords Leaked on Dark Web

… [Read More...] about Top 20 Passwords Leaked on Dark Web

Apple Warns of Actively Exploited Zero-Day Flaw

… [Read More...] about Apple Warns of Actively Exploited Zero-Day Flaw

IRS Stops Facial Recognition System for Online Access

… [Read More...] about IRS Stops Facial Recognition System for Online Access

National Cybersecurity Alliance Announces Data Privacy Week

… [Read More...] about National Cybersecurity Alliance Announces Data Privacy Week

More Cyber Security News

Tags

amazon Android Apple bitcoin China chrome CISA credit card DarkSide DHS DOJ Equifax Europe Facebook facial recognition FBI Firefox FTC games GDPR Google Government hacker identity theft India iPhone Iran IRS LinkedIn Microsoft North Korea PayPal phishing phishing email ransomware REvil Russia smartphone T-Mobile TikTok tutorial VPN WhatsApp WiFi Windows

Government

CBP Looks to Access Airline Passenger Data

FTC Releases Cyber Threat Video Playlist

Malware Found on US Government Funded Phones

UK NCA Reaches Out to Youth to Deter Cybercrimes

More Posts from this Category

Footer

Menu

  • Home
  • About
  • Authors
  • Newsletter Signup
  • PRIVACY POLICY

Search

Why Use a VPN?

NordVPN vs IPVanish VPN Review

NAVIGATION

  • Data Breaches
  • Data Privacy
  • Gamers
  • Scams
  • Malware

MEMBER NJCCIC

New Jersey Cybersecurity & Communications Integration Cell

STAY CONNECTED

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Twitter
  • RSS

Copyright © 2023 · AskCyberSecurity.com · METRONY, LLC

Go to mobile version