SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provided free legal services for low income seniors in San Mateo Count, California.

May 11, 2020

CORONAVIRUS SCAMS

Coronavirus scams are spreading nearly as fast as the virus itself.

Fraudsters are using the full suite of scam tools — phishing emails and texts, robocalls, impostor schemes and more to steal money with their dirty work.

Here are some types of coronavirus scams:

*Bogus claims to cure or prevent COVID-19

*Bogus approved vaccines. No vaccines or drugs have been approved specifically to treat or prevent COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

*Bogus claims that teas, essential oils, cannabinol, colloidal silver and intravenous vitamin-C therapies are among defenses against the pandemic.

*Other scammers claim to be selling or offering in-demand supplies such as surgical masks, test kits and household cleaners, often in robocalls, texts or social media ads.

With many Americans set to receive stimulus checks under the federal CARES Act, the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is warning of a wave of schemes promising to speed up your payment. Watch out for calls or emails, purportedly from government agencies, that use the term “stimulus” (the official term is “economic-impact payment”) and asking you to sign over a check or provide personal information like your Social Security number or bank account number.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued warnings to many companies suspected of abetting coronavirus robocalls, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) set up a dedicated website with information on COVID-19 phone scams. Other scammers will likely take their place.

The US Justice Department has shut down a number of bogus websites, many with terms like “coronavirus” or “covid19” in the domain name, or that promise vaccines and other aid, often purporting to represent government agencies or humanitarian organizations.

Be cautious when you browse for information about coronavirus. Developing and testing vaccines for viruses takes a long time. You will hear about them first from a legitimate source, such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the World Health Organization (WHO).

Attribution: AARP.org