Scammers are trying to take advantage of health and financial worries caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to
PSEG Long Island, they may try to reach you in different ways — anything from phone calls and emails to fake charities and unauthorized vaccines.
Follow these nine tips to protect yourself, your wallet and others from scammers:
1. Don't click on links from unknown sendersIf anything seems off about an email, don't click on any links and delete it.
2. Ignore robocallsIf you receive a phone call from an unknown or suspicious number, ignore it or hang up immediately. Don't press any numbers or offer any personal information to the caller.
3. Trust doctors over peddlers
Treatments for COVID-19 require intense scrutiny. Information about safe and effective medical advancements will come from professionals, not salespeople.
4. Disregard offers for home testing kits and vaccinationsThe Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn't authorized any home testing kits or vaccinations. Any products advertised online for these products aren't proven to treat or prevent the virus.
5. Don't 'sign up' to receive a relief checkThe federal government has the information it needs to send you your relief check if you filed taxes for 2018 and/or 2019. Anyone asking for your personal information to help you "sign up" to receive your check is a scammer, according to the
Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Only use
irs.gov/coronavirus to submit information to the IRS – and never in response to a call, text, or email.
6. Don’t pay for government benefitsStimulus checks, unemployment payments and Medicare benefits never require you to pay upfront to apply for, or receive them.
7. Research online sellers before making a purchaseSome scammers are posing as online sellers with access to in-demand items, such as cleaning products and medical supplies. If you need any of these products, use a trusted delivery service or order directly from a store.
8. Don't rush into making a donationBefore donating to a charity or supporting a cause on a crowdfunding site, research the organizer and the cause. The
FTC offers more tips to avoid charity scams.
Scammers are expected to steal over $2 billion in 2020. According to Google, we can thwart their efforts with the three golden rules:
Slow it down - Scammers often create a sense of urgency so that they can bypass your better instincts.
Spot check - Do your research to double check the details you're getting.
Stop! Don't send - No reputable person or agency will ever demand payment on the spot. If you think the payment feels fishy, it probably is.
undefined