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Part
01
Daily COVID-19 Scams (April 5)
A new scam related to the COVID-19 crisis that has come to light in the past few days is the pop-up drive-through testing sites in Kentucky that sell $250 COVID-19 tests to people exhibiting symptoms. This and an additional 12 other scams have been entered on the attached spreadsheet in rows 85-97.
Scams
- A phishing email requests people to click on a link that provides information about COVID-19, but is actually mining for personal information.
- Drive-through testing sites are offering $250 COVID-19 tests to people who have symptoms and promise 24-hour results.
- A telephone call offers Medicare members a free home testing kit for the coronavirus.
- Due to falling interest rates because of COVID-19, a telephone call is offering mortgage refinancing to homeowners.
- A telephone call tells people they can get supplies like sanitizer, soap, face masks, and toilet paper delivered to their home in 24 hours.
- Through Facebook Messenger, scammers are telling people they are eligible for grants between $50,000 and $300,000 if they pay an upfront fee.
- Another Facebook Messenger scam tells people they can find out when their stimulus check will arrive by calling a number and providing their social security number.
- A text message tells seniors they can get a $50,000 grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation if they have been affected by the coronavirus.
- Another text message scam tells people they can get their stimulus checks immediately by confirming their bank account and paying a $50 fee.
- Yet another text message scam tells Costco members they can receive $100 to spend at the store by clicking on a link.
- People in West Virginia are getting telephone calls threatening to shut off their utilities for non-payment unless they pay their balances immediately with a prepaid debit card.
- Some social security beneficiaries are receiving letters in the mail threatening the suspension of their benefits if they don't call a certain number because social security offices are closed due to the coronavirus.
- Members of Total Care in Iowa are receiving text messages that they can get two free meals by clicking on a link and signing up.