Winston Churchill once said, “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” While many of us take time to reflect and alter plans during difficult times, others prey on us when we’re most vulnerable. Here are 4 ways to help avoid a coronavirus scam.
- Ignore offers for vaccinations and home test kits.
Scammers are selling unapproved and inaccurate products to treat and/or test for COVID-19. - Hangup on Robocalls.
Scammers are performing illegal robocalls to try to collect personal information about you. The Federal Trade Commission is reporting these robocalls are also attempting to sell low-priced health insurance and work-from-home schemes. - Watch out for phishing emails and text messages.
Do not open or click on links in emails or text from someone you do not know or were not expecting. The Federal Trade Commission is reporting people are receiving calls, texts, and emails from “the government,” “the IRS,” “CDC,” and “WHO.” None of the mentioned will contact you via phone, text, or email to collect information about you. - Research before you donate.
Never let anyone rush you or talk you into a donation. Do your homework and research the charity first. Never pay by cash, gift card, or by wiring money.
For more information about how to detect these and other scams, visit https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/scam-alerts.
Source: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/
