Scammers prey on people during vulnerable times to take advantage of those worried about their health or finances. ‘Phishing’ is a common type of attack that seeks to use deception to manipulate individuals into divulging confidential or personal information that may be used for fraudulent purposes.
Be on the lookout for the following scams that have been compiled and reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) specifically in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic:
Coronavirus Related Scams
Please be mindful of scams claiming the following:
Coronavirus treatments and work-from-home schemes
Offers regarding vaccinations and home test kits
Communications claiming to be from the government, especially those related to receipt of stimulus checks
Emails claiming to be from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Emails from unknown charities asking for donations
How to Avoid Coronavirus Scams
Please take the following precautions when you receive contact from unknown sources:
Hang up on robocalls and don’t press any numbers
Ignore online offers for vaccinations and home test kits
Currently, there are no Federal Drug Administration (FDA)-authorized home test kits for the Coronavirus
Do not respond to texts and emails about checks from the government
Anyone who tells you they can get you the money now is a scammer
Do not click on links from sources you do not know as they could download viruses onto your computer or device
Watch for emails claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or other government and international agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO)
Especially be cautious if you have not signed up for these updates
Investigate charities and crowdfunding sites before donating
These are uncertain times and we want to keep you informed of the latest developments to protect you and your family from further impacts.
