Many scammers are taking this time during the COVID-19 pandemic to attempt fraud on the vulnerable and panicked. Educate yourself on these scams and warn your friends and family to avoid these phone calls and fake emails.
- Fake IRS callers are claiming they need your bank information to deposit the stimulus funds. Do NOT give anyone any personal information if you do not know who you are speaking to. The IRS has never, and will never, call you asking for your account information. If you have accidentally given out information, call your bank immediately.
- Be careful what links you click on. There is plenty of information overload right now. Fraudsters know this and will create fake accounts on popular social media sites or send you emails hoping you will click on a link to compromise your devices. Hover over links to know where it is taking you, or delete any emails from senders you don’t know. Stay up to date from trusted entities, such as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO).
- Emails and online offers claiming to sell COVID-19 test kits. These are not real. There are no FDA-authorized home testing kits for the coronavirus right now.
- Online offers claiming to sell hard to find household and cleaning products – If it seems too good to be true, then it just might be. Currently there are sellers price gauging or claiming to have an inventory of these hard to find cleaning supplies; be weary of this. Stores are restocking, if you can go to a trusted store.
- Be weary of crowdfunding and donation sites. It’s a difficult time and we want to do what we can. Scammers have been known to create fake donation sites; so do your research on these charities.