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COVID 19 or Coronavirus Scams versus Facts
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COVID 19 or CorVID 19 or Coronaonavirvirus Scams vus Scams verersus Fsus Factsacts
COVID 19 or CorVID 19 or Coronaonavirvirus Scams vus Scams verersus Fsus Factsacts
There are no Medicare programs (or any birthdates, bank account numbers, and but new ones may pop up faster than
other health programs) that send you free, other personal information to receive authorities can take them down.
unsolicited coronavirus tests. their stimulus checks. You may receive a Johns Hopkins University and Medicine
You can be tested if you visit a doctor, phone call or email that seems legitimate, (a legitimate organization) does offer
urgent care, or an emergency room while but don’t let the fear of missing out on a coronavirus tracking map with accurate,
exhibiting symptoms. There might also be your check convince you to compromise up-to-date coronavirus information on its
drive-through testing centers in your area, your data. website, but you don’t have to download
but you’ll need to call for an appointment The Facts anything to use it. The Guardian and
and confirm you have symptoms first. the New York Times also have legitimate
And remember: according to the Centers Federal officials are still working out COVID-19 maps.
for Disease Control and Prevention how to deliver stimulus funds to citizens, Online shopping scams
(CDC), only those who show symptoms but no one will ask you for personal Fraudsters have long used the internet
should be tested. 1 information to sign up for a check. And no to scam online shoppers, but during the
Unapproved cures or treatments third party has early access to this money, coronavirus pandemic, they’re focusing on
so don’t be fooled. products that people are desperate to get
The COVID-19 pandemic has left people Provided you filed income taxes for
searching for ways to cure it. Several their hands on.
If nothing else, scammers are companies have begun fraudulently either 2018 or 2019, the IRS will simply The Scam
persistent. They’re always looking for claiming their products do exactly that. mail a check to your address or deposit While legitimate stores are low on toilet
ways to use current events to play on the funds into your bank account, paper, bottled water, food staples, and face
your fears and take advantage of The Scam depending on whether you’ve paid your masks, scammers claim to have them in
uncertainty. And that’s true during the taxes or received a return via check or spades. But they just take your money
coronavirus pandemic too. A website touts a product or products— direct deposit in the past. (often through untraceable forms, such as
such as herbal supplements or teas, If you’re receiving Social Security or gift cards or bitcoin) and never send you
Coronavirus scams run the gamut of essential oils, tinctures, or colloidal Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) benefits what you think you’ve bought.
fraud—from bogus COVID-19 cures to silver—that can supposedly cure or and don’t have to file taxes, you also don’t The Facts
criminals pretending to be government prevent COVID-19. All you need to need to do anything to receive stimulus Food and supply shortages are real, but
officials to work-from-home jobs that achieve peace of mind is a credit card money. 4 supply chains are reliable, so stores will
are too good to be true. You can protect number. If you are concerned about receiving replenish their shelves. Unfortunately,
yourself by understanding what The Facts your funds, go directly to the IRS website. delivery timelines are longer than usual
scammers are after, and the tactics they Currently, there are no known cures or The IRS will update this page with due to limited staffing at stores and an
use, and staying abreast of the latest preventatives for the new coronavirus, information on stimulus checks as it explosion of online orders. If you can wait
scams officials uncover. other than avoiding exposure to the virus becomes available. for Amazon, Walmart, or other legitimate
altogether. There are several vaccines in Fake coronavirus tracking apps online retailers to send you what you
Here are some of the coronavirus the works, but they aren’t expected to be
scams to watch out for—and how you ready for at least 18 months, and experts If you’re like me, you check the news need, do so.
can avoid becoming a victim. several times per day to find out if there If you can’t wait, consider asking a low-
still aren’t sure they’ll work. are new cases of coronavirus nearby. It’s risk relative or friend to pick up what you
“Free” virus test kits On March 9, the Food and Drug almost like checking the weather. Staying need from the store and leave the items on
Administration (FDA) warned several your doorstep. If you choose to buy online
People are understandably desperate companies to stop making false claims informed is a great way to keep yourself and aren’t sure whether a website is
to know whether they have the virus, about their products, and has since and loved ones safe, but scammers take legitimate, use the Federal Trade
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and scammers know this. Older adults maintained a steadily growing list of advantage of that desire. Commission’s guidelines for identifying
(many of whom are on Medicare) have fraudulent COVID-19 products hawked by The Scam and avoiding fraudulent online
even more reason to worry since they scammers. Recently, a fake app for Android businesses.
are most at risk of experiencing an If you think you have coronavirus, don’t smartphones called “corona live 1.1” was Scams offering remote work
extreme case of the illness. But if you turn to the internet for a miracle cure—call discovered. The app promises to give you
receive an unsolicited phone call, text, your doctor, a nurse helpline, urgent care, live updates of coronavirus cases and With record numbers of people laid off,
email, or in-person offer for a free virus or an emergency room provider. deaths near you, but instead uses your furloughed, or working from home,
test kit, don’t be fooled. Fake stimulus checks location, camera, photos, and videos to fraudsters have developed work-from-
The Scam spy on you. home scams designed to mine your
Scammers ask you to reveal personal On March 25, the federal government personal information.
information, such as your social approved a $2 trillion stimulus package This fraudulent app infringes on your
security number, birth date, or that includes delivering $1,200 to eligible privacy and may allow you to The Scam
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Medicare number for a test kit they citizens. Unfortunately, scammers are unwittingly share personal information You get a phone call, email or text
never plan to send you. Instead, the using this much-needed relief to steal your with whoever is listening in. offering the promise of a job you can
fraudsters use the information you personal information. perform without leaving your home. And
reveal to steal your identity or run up The Scam The Facts the “hiring process”requires an upfront
fraudulent Medicare charges under your Posing as Internal Revenue Service (IRS) investment or the disclosure of personal
name. officials, scammers pressure people to give When discovered, fraudulent apps are information.
The Facts generally removed from app stores such
up their social security numbers, as Google Play or the Apple App Store, Continued on Page 14

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