As we continue to live with the COVID-19 pandemic, Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. is warning residents to protect themselves from increasing COVID-19-related scams and frauds.
As this crisis continues, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies are seeing more scams related to federal coronavirus stimulus payments as well as bogus COVID-19-related products and treatments for sale, charities, and fraudulent investment and job opportunities. Recently, the FTC released information on a new scam: text messages that proport to be “COVID-19 contact tracing.” While it’s true you could get a call from a health department representative or a confirmation text message, you will never be asked to click on a link in a text message. The FTC provides examples of fake messages.
Be suspicious of anyone who contacts you–via phone call, e-mail, text message or social media – requesting money and/or your personal identifying information (Social Security Number, birth date, address, etc.). Recently, work-from-home frauds have become more frequent during this crisis with scammers offering jobs if you pay them up front. That’s never legitimate.
DA Scarpino reminds residents, “Scammers wake up every day trying to find new ways to take advantage of the unsuspecting. This is their work. Our work is to keep you safe. Don’t fall victim to anyone trying to get money or information from you. You will never receive calls or e-mails from the IRS, the Census Bureau or other federal agency asking for your Social Security or credit card information.”
A few dos and don’ts:
Don't:
- Don’t believe a person claiming to be a Census employee asking for money or your Social Security number. Real Census representatives don’t do that.
- Don’t fall for fake medical companies re: COVID-19 tests, treatments or drugs and requesting personal identifying information to “check for eligibility” or ask for payment.
- Don’t give money to anyone soliciting donations relating to COVID-19 assistance, unless you know it’s a trusted charity. (Check Charity Navigator)
- Don’t speak to anyone who claims to be a representative from national health organizations, such as the CDC or WHO offering to help obtain COVID-19 stimulus funds.
- Don’t click on links or communication which appear to direct you to COVID-19 news, health-related or other websites you are not familiar with. They may contain malware to take over your computer or plant a virus.
- Don’t assume the person on the phone is who they say they are. Ask for a phone number and suggest you will call them back.
- Don’t take the bait. Clicking on a text link re: contact tracing will download bad software onto your device, giving scammers access to your personal and financial information. Ignore and delete these scam messages.
- Don’t pay anyone who says they can get you a job–not money or in gift cards.
Do:
- Do look carefully at e-mail addresses. While a subject line may say the e-mail is from a federal agency, a bank, or a charity, the e-mail address may give it away. Criminals will sometimes change just one letter in an e-mail address to make it look like one you trust.
- Do use call-blocking technology on your phone.
- Do back up your digital devices, so if you do get hacked you have a recent copy.
- Do keep your computer anti-virus software up to date.
- Do only refer to trusted sources of information. For medical, trust your doctor, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Westchester County Health Department. For financial information, refer to the Federal Trade Commission or the Internal Revenue Service.
Remember: legitimate government authorities, health care providers and charitable organizations will never “cold call” you to solicit your personal identifying information, banking or credit details via phone call, text message or e-mail.
If you have been a victim of a similar scam, or know someone else who has, please report it to your local police or file a claim with the District Attorney’s Office. We are here to help.
