Fraudsters and scam artists are always looking for new ways to prey on consumers. Now they are using
the same tactics to take advantage of consumers’ heightened financial and health concerns over the
coronavirus pandemic. Federal, state, and local law enforcement have begun issuing warnings on the
surge of coronavirus scams and how consumers can protect themselves. Here are some of the more
prevalent coronavirus scams that consumers need to watch out for.
Schemes related to economic impact payments
The IRS recently issued a warning about various schemes related to economic impact payments that are
being sent to taxpayers under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.(1) The IRS
warns taxpayers to be aware of scammers who:
- Use words such as “stimulus check” or “stimulus payment” instead of the official term, “economic impact
payment” - Ask you to “sign up” for your economic impact payment check
- Contact you by phone, email, text or social media for verification of personal and/or banking information
to receive or speed up your economic impact payment
In most cases, the IRS will deposit the economic impact payment directly into an account that taxpayers
previously provided on their tax returns. If taxpayers have previously filed their taxes but not provided
direct-deposit information to the IRS, they will be able to provide their banking information online at
irs.gov/coronavirus. If the IRS does not have a taxpayer’s direct-deposit information, a check will be mailed
to the taxpayer’s address on file with the IRS. In addition, the IRS is reminding Social Security recipients
who normally don’t file taxes that no additional action or information is needed on their part to receive the
$1,200 economic payment — it will be sent to them automatically.
Fraudulent treatments, vaccinations, and home test kits
The Federal Trade Commission is tracking scam artists who are attempting to sell fraudulent products that
claim to treat, prevent, or diagnose COVID-19. Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has
not approved any products designed specifically to treat or prevent COVID-19.
The FDA had warned consumers in March to be wary of companies selling unauthorized coronavirus home
testing kits. On April 21, 2020, the FDA authorized the first coronavirus test kit for home use. According to
the FDA, the test kits will be available to consumers in most states, with a doctor’s order, in the coming
weeks. You can visit fda.gov for more information.
Phishing scams
Scammers have begun using phishing scams related to the coronavirus pandemic in order to obtain
personal and financial information. Phishing scams usually involve unsolicited phone calls, emails, text
messages, or fake websites that pose as legitimate organizations and try to convince you to provide
personal or financial information. Once scam artists obtain this information, they use it to commit identity or
financial theft. Be wary of anyone claiming to be from an official organization, such as the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention or the World Health Organization, or nongovernment websites with domain
names that include the words “coronavirus” or “COVID-19,” as they are likely to be malicious.
Charity fraud
Many charitable organizations are dedicated to helping those affected by COVID-19. Scammers often pose
as legitimate charitable organizations in order to solicit donations from unsuspecting donors. Be wary of
charities with names that are similar to more familiar or nationally known organizations. Before donating to
a charity, make sure that it is legitimate and never donate cash, gift cards, or funds by wire transfer. The
IRS website has a tool to assist you in checking out the status of a charitable organization at
irs.gov/charities-and-nonprofits.
Protecting yourself from scams
Fortunately, there are some things you can do to protect yourself from scams, including those related to the
coronavirus pandemic:
- Don’t click on suspicious or unfamiliar links in emails, text messages, and instant messaging services.
- Don’t answer a phone call if you don’t recognize the phone number — instead, let it go to voicemail and
check later to verify the caller. - Never download email attachments unless you can verify that the sender is legitimate.
- Keep device and security software up-to-date, maintain strong passwords, and use multi-factor
authentication. - Never share personal or financial information via email, text message, or over the phone.
- If you see a scam related to the coronavirus, be sure to report it to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.
(1) Internal Revenue Service, IRS-2020-64, April 2, 2020
Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. does not provide investment, tax, legal or retirement advice or recommendations. The information presented here is not specific to any individual’s personal circumstances. To the extent that this material concerns tax matters, it is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by a taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed by law. Each taxpayer should seek independent advice from a tax professional based on his or her individual circumstances. These materials are provided for general information and educational purposes based upon publicly available information from sources believed to be reliable – we cannot assure the accuracy or completeness of these materials. The information in these materials may change at any time and without notice.
© Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.
