Public Prosecutor's Office Guidelines to Prevent Personal Data from being Stolen during COVID-19 Lockdown

After an increase, during lockdown due to COVID-19, in phishing, scam emails, false websites or mobile applications and fake or untrustworthy information being shared through messaging apps, the Specialized Cybercrime Unit (the “UFECI” after its acronym in Spanish) has developed a set of recommendations to operate safely online.

In this regard, the UFECI suggests the following recommendations:

• Personal Data and Social Media: to ignore messages received from unofficial senders, specifically those that inform users that their accounts have been blocked or those in which passwords or verification codes are asked to be shared. Furthermore, the UFECI warned that account blocking or unusual activity messages are only sent to email addresses previously registered in the reporting entity. Consequently, all those notices received by phone should be dismissed (e.g., calls, SMS or WhatsApp).
• Bank accounts: to ignore messages received from suspicious or unknown senders. Users are warned not to click the links contained in those emails. When in doubt, the UFECI advises contacting the sending entity for assistance through their official channels.
• Home Office: to have safe hardware and network connectivity. The UFECI advised protecting the network with a strong password -by combining letters, numbers and symbols - and to use original and up-to-date software. If transferring sensitive data, such data should be encrypted.
• Fake news: If in doubt about the authenticity of the source, to verify it before sharing. Often, those who share this fake content seek to induce fear or alarm into society.

Finally, the UFECI has created the following dedicated email account denunciasufeci@mpf.gov.ar to report cases and receive either more information or help.