Equally the number of global coronavirus cases grows each mean solar day, online scammers are turning to cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) to steal coin under the cover of the global pandemic.

According to cybersecurity business firm Sophos, some online perpetrators are now impersonating the World Wellness Organization (WHO) in an try to steal cryptocurrency donations to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Scammers wait to profit from the recently launched COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund

Chester Wisniewski, a cybersecurity expert at Sophos, reported on WHO impersonators in a March 19 tweet, posting email screenshots from scammers. Co-ordinate to Wisniewski, the fraudsters are trying to mislead people into sending them Bitcoin as a donation to WHO's COVID-xix Solidarity Response Fund that was launched on March 13.

The WHO established the new coronavirus fund in partnership with the United nations Foundation subsequently after the agency officially classified Coronavirus as a pandemic on March 11. Equally announced, the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund launched with support from Internet giants like Facebook and Google, inviting private donors to back up the fund through the official website.

The fake donation request reported by Wisniewski doesn't refer to the website at all, nonetheless. Co-ordinate to the screenshot, the impersonators ask the potential donors to donate by sending Bitcoin directly to an accost given in the electronic mail. The impersonators are also using a forged address, donate@who.int, in order to defraud people, co-ordinate to data from the security researcher. As of press time, both listed Bitcoin addresses in the simulated emails are empty, co-ordinate to data from Blockchain.com'south explorer.

Screenshot of fake email requesting Bitcoin donations for the WHO. Source: Twitter

Screenshot of fake electronic mail requesting Bitcoin donations for the WHO. Source: Twitter

Coronavirus scams increasingly involve crypto

Despite the WHO providing a detailed FAQ virtually its COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, it's not immediately clear whether the fund accepts donations in crypto or not. A spokesperson at the WHO told Cointelegraph that the organization doesn't accept donations in Bitcoin for its COVID-nineteen Solidarity Response Fund.

Every bit reported by Cointelegraph, a number of governments have already warned the public well-nigh the outbreak of crypto scams trying to capitalize on the widespread fears relating to COVID-19. On March 11, the United Kingdom (U.One thousand.) Financial Conduct Authority issued an official warning virtually coronavirus scammers using all the possible ways to mislead people into giving them money. The regulator wrote:

"Watch out for scams related to coronavirus (Covid-19). These scams take many forms and could exist near insurance policies, pensions transfers, or high-render investment opportunities, including investments in cryptoassets."

Previously, the U.K. police too warned about coronavirus scammers requesting payments in Bitcoin. Cointelegraph also reported on coronavirus-themed ransomware known as CovidLock that infects users' devices and asks payment of $100 worth of Bitcoin in substitution for a countersign that would render control of the device to the owner.

Update 19:00 UTC, March 23: This article was updated to specify that the World Health Organization doesn't accept donations in Bitcoin for its COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.