Watch out for COVID-19 Scams
Watch out for COVID-19 Scams
By: Stacey Nickens
Scammers are taking advantage of people’s financial and health concerns during the COVID-19 crisis, and it’s important to remain abreast of some of these scammers’ latest tactics. Consider some of the warning signs below to help protect yourself from fraudulent activities.
Avoid fraudulent treatments, vaccinations, and home test kits. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warned that scam artists are attempting to sell fake products that supposedly treat, prevent, or diagnose COVID-19. The FDA has also warned against companies peddling COVID products not approved or authorized by the FDA. To learn more, visit fda.gov.
Be wary of phishing scams. Phishing scams involve unsolicited phone calls, emails, text messages, letters, or fake websites from fraudsters posing as legitimate organizations. These fraudsters try to solicit your personal or financial information in order to commit identity fraud. During these times, many phishing scammers are claiming to be organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, the Social Security Administration, and the Internal Revenue Service. Remember that these organizations would never initiate contact in order to obtain your personal or financial information. If someone attempts to do so, ignore their fraudulent contact. Additionally, avoid websites with the words “coronavirus” or “COVID-19” in their domain names as they are often fraudulent.
Confirm the validity of Coronavirus-related charities. Many scammers are posing as charities that are supposedly helping those impacted by COVID-19. These scammers will attempt to solicit “donations” and will often use names similar to familiar charities, such as the American Red Cross. Before donating, check irs.gov/charities-and-nonprofits to confirm the validity of the organization. Remember to never donate cash, gift cards, or funds via wire transfer.
Take additional steps to protect yourself from scammers. Don’t click on suspicious or unfamiliar links. Don’t answer phone calls from unfamiliar numbers. Instead, listen to the voicemail to determine if you need to call them back. Only download email attachments from verified senders. Make sure your device and security software is up-to-date. Use complex passwords and two-factor authentication. Do not give out personal or financial information over email, through a text message, or on the phone.
Finally, report suspicious activity. Contact the appropriate federal agency, such as the Federal Trade Commission or IRS, to report possible scams.
