BEWARE SCAMMERS Taking Advantage of COVID-19
Hard as it is to believe, there are people taking advantage of the coronavirus COVID-19 health crisis to commit consumer fraud trying to steal your money. Caernarvon Township Police wants to take a brief minute to alert you to some of the current scams. We have outlined some of the scams below. For more information, you can review the Federal Trade Commission’s warnings at: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2020/02/coronavirus-scammers-follow-headlines.
Coronavirus Charity Scams
Scammers are taking advantage of the fears by setting up websites to sell bogus products and using fake emails, texts and social media posts as a ruse to take your money.
Some scammers pose as a charity asking for a donation to help fight the spread of the virus. Others will ask for donations to help the sick, or those who lost their jobs during the health crisis.
Do not make contributions of cash, gift cards or stock to agencies or organizations with which you are not very familiar. www.guidestar.org is a good resource for checking out a charity’s authenticity and financials.
Beware look-alike and sound-alike names or misspellings like “ReddCross.”
Phony Cures & Treatments
Scammers use fake websites advertising fraudulent (often dangerous) treatment products and cures. These sites are designed to steal your money with the purchase of a fake product. Some sites might infect victims’ computers with a vicious computer virus that steals your personal and confidential information.
If there is a cure, you’ll hear about it from the CDC through mainstream news. Don’t click on the bait. Don’t buy the product.
Money from the Government
President Trump and members of Congress have proposed various plans to stimulate the economy by sending checks to Americans. But no law or executive order has taken effect yet. If someone calls, emails, or texts you saying they are from the government and want to give you money, they are a scammer.
The Federal Trade Commission reminds us:
- 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 to ask for your Social Security number, bank account, or credit card number. Anyone who does is a scammer.
- These reports of checks aren’t yet a reality. Anyone who tells you they can get you the money now is a scammer.
