Cybercriminals are everywhere, and now they are capitalizing on swine flu fears by pitching fake Tamiflu, a drug that treats the flu symptoms. You may think this does not directly affect you, but it might if your workforce gets hit with this pandemic.

Graham Cluley, a technology consultant for Sophos, writes that cybercriminals are "putting their customers' health, personal information and credit card details at risk" with counterfeit versions of Tamiflu.

"Although unwitting buyers do often receive some kind of drug as result of the transactional exchange, at best the drug doesn't work and at worse it can pose serious health risks," he said in an article reported in the Wall Street Journal.

The Federal Trade Commission has issued warnings to 10 websites making questionable claims that their products could be used to treat swine flu. The claims included assertions that homeopathic remedies and air-filtration systems could prevent swine flu. The vaccine is just about the only prevention out there except for some commonsense habits such as coughing or sneezing into your arm instead of your hands and washing your hands frequently.

The FTC said most of these websites are violating federal law unless they can back up their claims with scientific proof.

"As consumers grow increasingly anxious about obtaining the H1N1 vaccine for their children and other vulnerable family members, scam artists take advantage by selling them bogus remedies online," said David Vladeck, director of the FTC's bureau of consumer protection, in a statement.

In what could be a tough winter for managers everywhere, start thinking about some alternatives if the pandemic hits your office, including telework and flexible leave schedules. Use technology as a way around the problem.

For more on the swine flu:
- see this Wall Street Journal article

Related Articles:
How to handle H1N1 at the office
Is H1N1 on your radar screen?
CDC.gov and Flu.gov - 10 government transparency sites