Scams on the rise as more coronavirus cases tested. Here’s how to spot and avoid them
As with any natural disaster, national emergency or potential pandemic, scammers are bound to be on the hunt to exploit the coronavirus situation. Scams come in all forms like ads for cheap protective merchandise, phishing emails and request for donations to fake charities.
As of Friday, there were 240 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and 55 negative test results in Florida. With alarm about the coronavirus growing, people are already reporting possible scams.
As of Tuesday, 44 complaints had been made in the past month to the Federal Trade Commission through Consumer Sentinel Network, a database available only to law enforcement.
Most of the complaints dealt with travel-related issues, like cancellations and refunds, and purchases of medical supplies and treatments. There were a few complaints about delays in shipping products from China.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is encouraging consumers to stay updated and review tips on avoiding scams based on the virus.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office also released tips on how to spot a scam:
▪ Scams can include social media posts, texts and websites meant to take your personal information and money and infect computers.
▪ Think twice before investing in companies who say they are working on a coronavirus cure. Check official sources like the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission before being lured into a scam.
▪ Be aware of fake fundraising. Verify that the charity is legitimate. If someone wants donations in cash, gift card or by wiring money, don’t do it.
▪ Watch out for online marketing of vaccinations or products claiming to treat the virus.
▪ Do not click on unfamiliar links or emails. Phishing emails may mention the coronavirus, medical supplies or claim to be from government, national or local health organizations in order to get users to open a message that unleashes malware.
▪ Watch for emails claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or experts saying they have information about the virus.
▪ Be aware of entering personal information into websites.
This story was originally published March 6, 2020 at 4:25 PM.
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