In the midst of the COVID-19 global crisis, scammers have found a way to prey on the most vulnerable. From fraudulent emails and to fake testing sites, we’ve rounded up a few of the latest COVID-19 scams to watch out for.
Never Take an Online COVID-19 Test
Beware of one of the latest scams that will come as a text message. According to the Better Business Bureau, you’ll receive a text that orders you to take an online COVID-19 test. There is no way to test online for COVID-19 and the U.S. government will not send you a text message.
Don’t Open an Infected Person List Email
With this scam, you’ll receive an email that says you’ve come in contact with a person infected by COVID-19. You’ll get an email notifying you to download an excel spreadsheet. You're then instructed to take it with you to the nearest testing facility. Once downloaded, your machine will be infected by a malicious virus.
Fake Small Business Relief Grants
IBM researchers have recently found an email campaign directed at small business owners. These fake emails appear to be from the U.S. Small Business Association. You’ll receive an email prompting you to apply for a small business relief grant. These emails are malicious and do not come from the U.S. government.
Bogus Pop-Up Testing Sites
One tragic scam involves Medicare recipients in Louisville. People were lured to a fake testing site in which people dressed in PPE claiming to test you for COVID-19. The organizers were shut down for stealing personal information to make false Medicaid and Medicare claims.
False Check Claims
In Canada, certain citizens received an email stating that the Canadian Prime Minister was awarding checks. These checks were in exchange for staying home during the COVID-19 quarantine orders. Once recipients opened these emails, their computers were infected with malware.
Stay Vigilant
If you receive a fake text or email during the COVID-19 crisis, let your local Better Business Bureau know. Don’t open these messages or follow any of the prompts. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
