Avoid COVID-19 Scams

                                               

Information Courtesy of the U.S.  Department of Homeland Security

FTC:  Scammers are taking advantage of fears surrounding the Coronavirus. Avoid Coronavirus Scams Infographic for Keep Calm and Avoid Coronavirus Scams

  • Don’t respond to texts, emails or calls about checks from the government. The details are still coming together.•Ignore online offers for vaccinations and home test kits. There are no products proven to treat or prevent COVID-19 at this time.
  • Hang up on robocalls. Scammers are using illegal robocalls to pitch everything from low-priced health insurance to work-at-home schemes.
  • Watch for emails claiming to be from the CDC or WHO. Use sites like coronavirus.gov and usa.gov/coronavirus to get the latest information. And don’t click on links from sources you don’t know.
  • Do your homework when it comes to donations. Never donate in cash, by gift card, or by wiring money.

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/coronavirus-scams-what-ftc-doing

 

FCC:  COVID-19 Consumer Warnings and Safety Tips

As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to impact the United States, phone scammers have seized the opportunity to prey on consumers.

The FCC has received reports of scam and hoax text message campaigns and scam robocalls offering free home testing kits, promoting bogus cures, selling health insurance, and preying on virus-related fears.

A text message scam may falsely advertise a cure or an offer to be tested for coronavirus. Do not click on links in texts related to the virus.

Some text scams are impersonating government agencies. The FCC recently learned of a text scam claiming to be from the "FCC Financial Care Center" and offering $30,000 in COVID-19 relief. There is no FCC program to provide relief funds to consumers. The text is likely a phishing attempt to get banking or other personal information from victims. The BBB is also warning of a text message scam impersonating the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services informs recipients that they must take a "mandatory online COVID-19 test" using the included link.

https://www.fcc.gov/covid-scams

 

Treasury:  COVID-19 Scams

If you receive calls, emails, or other communications claiming to be from the Treasury Department and offering COVID-19 related grants or stimulus payments in exchange for personal financial information, or an advance fee, or charge of any kind, including the purchase of gift cards, please do not respond.  These are scams.  Please contact the FBI at www.ic3.gov so that the scammers can be tracked and stopped.

Fraud involving payment of Federal taxes should be reported to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.

https://home.treasury.gov/services/report-fraud-waste-and-abuse/covid-19-scams

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