Skip to content
Link copied to clipboard
Link copied to clipboard

Coronavirus scams: How fraudsters are taking advantage of the pandemic

In times like these, you need to be wary of those who would take advantage of a crisis.

According to a September, 2019 report called "Exposed to Scams: What Separates Victims from Non-Victims?" 39% of respondents who said they were contacted by phone by scammers ended up interacting with the crooks and only 11% lost money. By contrast, 91% engaged when contacted via social media and 53% lost money.
According to a September, 2019 report called "Exposed to Scams: What Separates Victims from Non-Victims?" 39% of respondents who said they were contacted by phone by scammers ended up interacting with the crooks and only 11% lost money. By contrast, 91% engaged when contacted via social media and 53% lost money.Read moreDreamstime / MCT

There is nothing like a crisis to bring out con artists seeking to take advantage of the vulnerable and the unwary.

With the nation in the grip of the coronavirus pandemic, officials are warning of possible scams to bilk you out of money or steal your information.

Click here for our full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and what you should know about it.

The Pennsylvania State Police warned the public Tuesday to be vigilant.

“Scams are variations of age-old scams as far as sending money via gift cards or Western Union,” said Ryan Tarkowski, communications director for the Pennsylvania State Police’s headquarters in Harrisburg. “The scams a lot of the time don’t change. It’s just the circumstances around them.”

Here are some things to keep in mind to protect yourself, according to law enforcement and health officials.

  1. The federal government has not announced any plans to impose a national quarantine, so be wary of texts and social media posts claiming such an action is coming. U.S. officials are alleging that a foreign disinformation campaign is underway aimed at spreading fear in the country amid the coronavirus pandemic.

  2. There are no vaccines, pills, potions, lotions, lozenges or other prescription or over-the-counter products available to prevent, treat, or cure COVID-19. The Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Food and Drug Administration have already sent warning letters to seven companies allegedly selling unapproved products that may violate federal law by making deceptive or scientifically unsupported claims about their ability to treat COVID-19.

  3. Don’t click on online sources you don’t know or respond to emails from unfamiliar senders offering information or products related to the pandemic. They could be aimed at stealing your identity or downloading viruses to your computers or devices.

  1. Be wary of emails claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or other health agencies saying they have information about the virus. For the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus, check the CDC and World Health Organization sites.

  2. Vet any requests for donations. If don’t know the charity or person requesting donations, don’t give. Be particularly suspicious of crowdfunding sites that might crop up with the announced intention of supporting groups, such as restaurant workers, affected by closures related to the pandemic. Do not respond to requests for donations in cash, by gift card, or by wiring money.

  3. Be alert to fake “investment opportunities.” The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is warning people about online promotions, including on social media, claiming that the products or services of publicly-traded companies can prevent, detect, or cure coronavirus, and that the stock of these companies will dramatically increase in value as a result.

  4. Remember, you are not likely to learn about a medical breakthrough for the first time through an ad or sales pitch?

  5. You can sign up for consumer alerts about scams from the Federal Trade Commission or report suspicious claims to the agency at ftc.gov/complaint.

Staff writer Katie Park contributed to this article.