More scams going viral

This COVID-19 pandemic has already spawned one costly statewide scam, and now other unscrupulous individuals have their sights set on vulnerable individuals struggling through this trying time.

We previously became aware of the large-scale fraud perpetrated against the state Department of Unemployment Assistance in filings for unemployment benefits.

The agency indicated it had identified more than 58,000 bogus claims and recovered a total of $158 million as of June 20.

Now, Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian has issued a heads-up to anyone who’s been contacted by fraudsters pushing alleged virus-related test kits and vaccines.

“The criminals who carry out these scams target residents of all ages and economic backgrounds,” Koutoujian said in a news release.

We’d hope that everyone who’s paid any attention to this ongoing public-health threat realizes we’ve yet to produce a vaccine or all-encompassing therapeutic remedy for this coronavirus.

While scams involving Electronic Impact Payments have been publicized, Sheriff Koutoujian wants residents also to be aware of callers posing as law enforcement, threatening to “arrest for things such as failure to perform jury duty, failure to pay taxes or Social Security-related fraud.”

They’re after your money, personal information or both.

Koutoujian urges victims of stolen identity to contact law enforcement, state unemployment agencies, the IRS, credit bureaus and their employer’s human resources department.

In short, don’t let your guard down — whether it’s this virus or human parasites — during this crisis.