Posted on April 20, 2020 at 9:56 pm by Clay Curtin
If you received an email from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about the coronavirus outbreak, would you click on the link? If someone came to your door offering a test, would you give them money? Criminals are counting on it.
Scammers are taking advantage of COVID-19 fears by selling fake products online and using false emails to collect your money and personal information. These emails or phone calls may seem to be from trusted resources but are really attempts to get your personal information. We know when information has been compromised, you can feel vulnerable and violated. Help protect yourself by being aware that criminals are attempting to exploit COVID-19 worldwide through a variety of scams.
There have been a number of reports including:
- Individuals and businesses selling fake cures for COVID-19 online or at-home testing
- Scammers may emphasize the words "Stimulus Check" or "Stimulus Payment." The official term is economic impact payment.
- Phishing emails from entities posing as the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Internal Revenue Service.
- Malicious websites, emails, text messages and social media attempts that request money or personal information
- Seeking donations fraudulently for illegitimate or non-existent charitable organizations
Criminals will likely continue to use new methods to exploit COVID-19. If you think you are a victim of a scam or attempted fraud involving COVID-19, you can report it without leaving your home though a number of platforms.
