Scammers are using the COVID-19 pandemic as a scam tactic to exploit citizens’ fears and the uncertainty surrounding the spread of the virus. Scammers have already devised numerous methods for defrauding people in connection with COVID-19. They are setting up websites, contacting people by phone and email, and posting disinformation on social media platforms.
Here are some examples of scams linked to COVID-19:
- Treatment scams: Scammers are offering to sell fake cures, vaccines, and advice on unproven treatments for COVID-19.
- Supply scams: Scammers are creating fake shops, websites, social media accounts, and email addresses claiming to sell medical supplies currently in high demand, such as surgical masks. When consumers attempt to purchase supplies through these channels, fraudsters pocket the money and never provide the promised supplies.
- Provider scams: Scammers are also contacting people by phone and email, pretending to be doctors and hospitals that have treated a friend or relative for COVID-19, and demanding payment for that treatment.
- Charity scams: Scammers are soliciting donations for individuals, groups, and areas affected by COVID-19.
- Phishing scams: Scammers posing as national and global health authorities, including the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are sending phishing emails designed to trick recipients into downloading malware or providing personal identifying and financial information.
- App scams: Scammers are also creating and manipulating mobile apps designed to track the spread of COVID-19 to insert malware that will compromise users’ devices and personal information.
- Investment scams: Scammers are offering online promotions on various platforms, including social media, claiming that the products or services of publicly traded companies can prevent, detect, or cure COVID-19, and that the stock of these companies will dramatically increase in value as a result. These promotions are often styled as “research reports,” make predictions of a specific “target price,” and relate to microcap stocks, or low-priced stocks issued by the smallest of companies with limited publicly available information.
- Door to Door Scams: Scammer are using the COVID-19 virus as an opportunity to carry out distraction burglaries, or ‘ruse burglaries.” Be aware of people knocking on doors, claiming to be from the Department of Health or the CDC to test residence for the virus or selling vaccines and supplies.
Stimulus Check Scams
With the stimulus checks coming out soon, criminals are using this as an opportunity to try to scam you out of your personal information. Remember if you get a phone call, email, text message claiming to need personal information from you in order to send you a stimulus check, IT IS A SCAM. The government will not ask you to pay anything up front to get this money. No fees. No charges. No nothing.
The government will not call, text, email you and to ask for your Social Security number, bank account, or credit card number. For more information on COVID-19 scams please visit www.naperville.il.us/coronavirus-resources.
Until next month.. Stay Aware and Stay Safe.
