While medical professionals and scientists are working energetically to find ways to test for and reduce the spread of the coronavirus, scammers are vigilant to take advantage of people’s fears and steal their personal and health information in addition to their money.
How does it work?
Scammers usually:
-set up bogus websites to sell counterfeit coronavirus product: from face masks to vaccines:
-use fake emails, texts and social media posts to get consumers to provide payment and sensitive personal information.
Consumers may come across emails and social posts claiming to promote awareness and give prevention tips, including false information about cases in your area.
Scammers also manipulate information to promote “a new can’t-miss investment opportunity” and receive requests for donations to help coronavirus victims.
What you should know?
-There is currently no vaccine available for coronavirus.
-Any “investment opportunity” claim to help boost the economy during or after the virus is probably an opportunity to scam you and get your money.
-The best resources for information on the virus are the ones you know and trust — but first verify that the resource is who you think it is.
What you should do?
-Don’t click on email links from sources you don’t know. They could download a computer virus or malware on your device.
-Ignore any online offers for vaccinations and treatments. If a vaccine or treatment is developed, you will hear about it in the news, not from an online ad or sales pitch.
-If you receive an email claiming it is from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, close that communication immediately and go to www.cdc.gov to obtain accurate information.
-Before donating visit either give.org or charitynavigator.org for more information
Just as we are all vigilant to protect our health and that of our families from this virus, there are ways we can also protect us and our love ones from scammer and identity theft.
