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Beware of COVID-19 Scams Targeting Older Adults

March 27, 2020 - April 4, 2020

  • COVID-19 Stock Market Scams: The US Securities and Exchange Commission warned investors that scam artists are selling stocks for companies that claim their company has found a cure for COVID-19. The SEC says that “when investing in any company, including companies that claim to focus on coronavirus-related products and services, carefully research the investment and keep in mind that investment scam artists often exploit the latest crisis to line their own pockets.”
  • Phishing Schemes: Watch out for websites with COVID-19 or coronavirus in the domain name, those are likely to be fake sites attempting to collect your personal information through phishing emails. These emails are designed to spread malware, gain access to your internet connection, or to find personal information.
  • COVID-19 “Cures” or Vaccines: Remember that vaccines for viruses take time to be developed and tested. Rely on trusted sources, like the Center for Disease Control and Prevention or the World Health Organization for information regarding vaccines.
  • Door-to-Door Scammers: The North Carolina Department of Justice has received reports of individuals going door-to-door selling coronavirus test kits and cleaning supplies. Do not allow anyone you do not know into your house! This could be an effort to commit criminal acts, such as robbery. Call law enforcement and the NC Department of Justice to report their behavior.
To learn more about COVID-19 scams in North Carolina, check out NC Attorney General’s virtual town hall
  • Beware of phishing emails. Typically, these purport to be from reputable companies but are designed to induce people to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers.
  • Avoid opening attachments and clicking links within emails from senders you do not recognize. The attachments can contain malicious content, such as ransomware, that can infect your device and steal your information.
  • Be leery of emails or phone calls requesting account information or asking you to verify your account. Legitimate businesses never call or email you directly for this information.
  • Always independently verify that requests for information originate from a legitimate source.
  • Visit websites by inputting the domain name yourself. Businesses use encryption and other online safety measures, and messages that indicate a certificate “error” can be a warning sign that something is not right with the site.
To stay updated on fraud and scams, sign up to be apart of AARP’s “Watchdog Alerts” and receive the latest scam
information in your inbox.

Reporting Fraud and Scams

If you or a loved one have questions about fraud and scams, please contact The Council on Aging 828-277-8288. COA can help find the information you need to make proactive, educated decisions and to help you file a complaint with the appropriate agency.

 

Details

Start:
March 27, 2020
End:
April 4, 2020
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