SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Today, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott warned of several fraud schemes seeking to exploit the evolving coronavirus public health emergency often targeting vulnerable populations.
Scammers have already come up with methods for defrauding people in connection with COVID-19. They are setting up websites, contacting people by phone and email and posting misinformation on social media platforms.
Some examples of scams include:
Testing scams, scammers selling fake tests; treatment scams, scammers selling fake vaccines and giving false information; supply scams, scammers creating fake shops, websites, social media and email addresses claiming to sell medical supplies; provider scams, scammers contacting people by phone or email pretending to be doctors and hospitals; charity scams; phishing scams, scammers posing as national and global health authorities sending phising emails designed to get people to download malware or provide personal information; app scams, mobile apps designed to insert malware that will compromise a user's device; and investments scams, scammers are offering online promotions on various platforms, including social media, claiming that the products or services of publicly traded companies can prevent, detect, or cure COVID-19.
For full details and a full list of precautionary measures check here.
