Fraud Alert: COVID-19 Scams

Tips On How To Avoid Becoming A Victim of Pandemic-Driven Con Artists

Scam artists are going to con people no matter the circumstance, especially when an opportunity arises. Enter the novel coronavirus pandemic. Cha-ching! Unfortunately, the disrupted lives of millions of people during this health crisis means there are many more people becoming victims of schemes involving contact tracing, health insurance, and even medical testing. Here are some tips on how to protect yourself against COVID-19-related scams:

• Beware of phony contact tracers. A legitimate contact tracer will never ask you for money, bank information, Social Security numbers or immigration status.

• Ignore ads for at-home testing kits and vaccinations. These products are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and are more than likely to be inaccurate.

• Ignore any messages or calls you receive asking for the status of government payments, like the federal stimulus check. Official agencies will never ask for personal financial information or money.

• Never respond to emails or open links from email addresses you don’t recognize, and watch out for emails claiming to be from agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the World Health Organization (WHO). To report fraud, visit www.ftc.gov/complaint.

If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. If you get a funky feeling in your gut, listen to it. Don’t become one of the many victims of scam artists out to harm you further in 2020.

Source: 1199SEIU