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While everyone is stuck at home to help slow the spread of COVID-19, we all have a lot more time to spend online. It’s important in this time of crisis to keep our wits about us. Numerous bad actors have been hatching schemes to take advantage of this unusual situation. It’s important that you stay informed so you can avoid these scams.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans have likely already lost nearly $5 million to advanced COVID-related schemes. It’s no time to fall for these criminal schemes, and cloud services security is more important now than ever before.
Here are just a few of the notable COVID-19 related scams that are making the rounds, how to spot them, and what to do about them.
The most straightforward and bold schemes out there are straight-up fake relief organizations. These are set up to look like charitable giving for people affected by the novel coronavirus. In truth, they just funnel money to some con artist’s bank account.
You can avoid these scams by carefully researching any websites or emails that purport to be a charity. Only give money to trustworthy organizations in this time of crisis. Remember, also, that you should take care of your own family and your bills before donating to such organizaitons.
Emails purporting to offer you a refund on your travel accommodations that were canceled due to the virus are often fraudulent. Scammers are using this opportunity to make unwitting victims think they’re being offered refunds, and even awarded extra funds, due to their canceled travel plans.
It should be easy to spot any such scams: often, these scammers will claim they’ve accidentally refunded you too much money. Or, they will claim they need an upfront payment in order to transfer you the money. Often, they will ask for this money in the form of gift cards. Disregard such emails, as they are blatantly fraudulent.
Anyone purporting to sell vaccines, treatments, test kits or similar medical supplies related to the virus is lying. There is no vaccine or cure, and no random sellers have test kits. These are opportunistic scammers who are looking to make a quick buck and should be ignored.
The only thing you need to do to get your relief check is file a tax return for 2019. If you filed a return in 2018, that also makes you eligible for the stimulus check. Anyone claiming that they can help you get your refund sooner is a scammer, and their messages should be deleted.
