There are so many COVID-19 scams circulating right now. Everything from stimulus money fraud to imposter contact tracers and everything in between. Stay aware and keep your personal information safe. Here are some tips from the FTC.
KEEP CALM & AVOID CORONAVIRUS SCAMS
- Learn how to tell the difference between a real contact tracer and a scammer.
- Legitimate tracers need health information, not money or personal financial information.
- Don’t respond to texts, emails, or calls about checks from the government.
- Here’s what you need to know.
- Ignore offers for vaccinations and home test kits.
- Scammers are selling products to treat or prevent COVID-19 without proof that they work.
- Be wary of ads for test kits.
- Most test kits being advertised have not been approved by the FDA, and aren’t necessarily accurate.
- 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.
