Protect yourself from scams during crisis
Pennsylvanians must maintain their guard against fraud targeting consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We are going to beat this public health emergency by banding together. Taking care of yourself and your families should be the top priority. We are working round the clock not just on the public health crisis but the fallout from it — especially the impact on our older Pennsylvanians.
To assist in that effort, Pennsylvanians must maintain their guard against fraud targeting consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic. We urge you to bring reports of this behavior forward. Criminals are always looking to capitalize on a crisis to perpetrate fraud on unsuspecting victims.
Scammers are working overtime during this emergency. Scammers prey on people’s fears and anxiety, and there is certainly a great concern associated with the spread of COVID-19.
With most of us staying at home right now, criminals know right where to find you. It’s a target-rich environment for identity thieves and scammers.
How bad is it? The Federal Trade Commission reports receiving more than 17,000 consumer complaints related to the outbreak, with victims suffering losses of more than $13 million. And new research from Next Caller found that 32% of Americans believe they’ve already been targeted by fraud or scams related to COVID-19.
The implementation of the $2 trillion stimulus package is attracting lots of opportunistic criminals. While you are waiting to receive your economic-impact payment, criminals are working hard to get their hands on it.
Here are some clear signals that a scam artist is at work:
• The caller asks you to sign a check over to them.
• You receive an email, text or social media message asking you to verify personal and banking information to process your payment.
• An individual offers to get you your payment faster.
• You receive a fake check and are then asked to verify your personal information in order to cash it.
Of course, fraud related to economic-impact payments isn’t the only scam out there. Others involve illegal robocalls, government impersonators, salespeople offering hardto-find products, those seeking money for bogus charities and offers promising cures or remedies for COVID-19.
AARP’s Fraud Watch Network has received reports of texts that offer rapid screening for the disease, and include a link that will download malicious software onto your computer. Criminals have even adapted the grandparent scam by having grandchildren impersonators call targets and report that they were racing to get tested for the virus when they got pulled over for speeding and now need money to get out of jail.
To keep the scammers at bay, do your research before:
• Clicking on links purporting to provide information on the virus.
• Donating to a charity online or through social media.
• Contributing to a crowdfunding campaign.
• Buying products online.
• Offering your personal information to receive money or other benefits.
Consumers can check to see if an offer is a scam by calling the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360. The service is free and available to anyone, not just AARP members. And you should report scams to scams@attorneygeneral.gov.
This crisis will end. And when it does, the attorney general’s office and AARP will continue our work to help educate state residents about identifying and reporting popular consumer crimes.
But while scientists and medical professionals are tirelessly searching for ways to stem the spread of the virus and get our lives back to normal, remember that criminals are also working hard to steal your money and sensitive information.
The best advice is to stay safe, stay vigilant, and remember — if you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.