The COVID-19 pandemic has evolved into a global crisis with long-term consequences. Scams, regrettably, are a part of that picture. It’s a terrible aspect of human nature that scammers and fraudsters frequently appear during times of crisis to profit from other people’s anxieties.
In the current environment, there are five key areas wherein fraudsters are succeeding:
- Treatments, cures, and immunizations
- Testing
- Masks, tools, and other items
- Telehealth
- Economic
Be informed of what’s going on in the world and think twice before making any transactions or disclosing personal information.
Treatments, cures, and immunizations
The COVID-19 pandemic is particularly dangerous because of the virus’s extreme contagiousness and the lack of a cure, vaccine, or effective therapy. Unfortunately, this lack of treatments and pharmaceutical preventative measures has given scammers appealing chances.
For years, the US Food and Drug Administration and other organizations have warned people about bogus cures and treatments for several health problems and minerals and vitamins that the organization does not authorize.
The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has only increased the odds for some of these con artists and con businesses to make a quick buck, regardless of the potential health or financial ramifications for their victims.
It’s not just about the money. When you fall for health fraud, your health is also at stake. So many scientists and companies are rushing to develop these essential compounds, anyone claiming that their product is the cure is selling a phony product for the time being.
The FDA has closely monitored brands and industries that purport to stop, cure, reduce, diagnose, or cure COVID-19 and has issued warning letters to companies marketing false COVID-19 prevention, treatment, mitigation, diagnosis, or cure goods.
The FDA granted a safety alert for the following items:
- CBD (cannabidiol) goods.
- Drugs with a homeopathic base.
- Herbal items, essential oils, and tinctures
- Silver colloidal.
- Dioxides of chlorine (aka bleach).
- Products for salt therapy.
You may look up names and items that the FDA has designated as fraudulent on its website, updated regularly. This reporting page also allows you to report potential frauds and hoaxes to the FDA.
It’s not always easy to spot a scam, but many counterfeit health products contain critical terminology that indicates they’re not all they’re built up to be. If you notice the following phrases on any coronavirus-related product, you should think carefully about purchasing it:
- This is an easy remedy.
- A scientific breakthrough has occurred.
- There’s no danger because you can get your money back if you don’t like it.
- “COVID-19 treatment” or “cure” are two words that come to mind.
Testing
Another significant difficulty with the COVID-19 epidemic is the scarcity of accurate diagnostics. Testing would make it easier to determine who has the disease, who’s had it, and who is still at risk of infection. However, testing has fallen short of the required standards, allowing both scammers and legitimate businesses to try to fill the void.
Calls for in-home testing to cope with the challenge of getting more individuals tested have opened the door for some scammers to sell fake tests. The problem has become even more complicated due to a lack of clarity regarding what is and is not allowed with in-home testing.
The FDA regulates diagnostic tools in the United States. The FDA has worked to assist respectable testing businesses in bringing reliable COVID-19 diagnostic tools to market, recognizing the public health issue. The CDC told enterprises that they were not permitted to do so after a series of amended regulations seemed to indicate that certain in-home medical companies may proceed with supplying COVID-19 testing devices to clients.
The FDA approved home sample option can be seen, but you should be aware of who’s selling the test and whether or not they have the proper authority to market such products. Consult the Food and Drug Administration, your healthcare professional, or your local public health authority.
As testing methods improve, scams involving new types of testing, such as saliva tests and blood tests to search for antibodies to the coronavirus, may become more common.
New tests will become accessible when our capacity to test for the coronavirus improves. In addition, FDA granted emergency permission for restricted saliva testing. Because these tests cannot yet be performed at home, be wary of spam emails, social media adverts, or phone calls offering in-home saliva or blood sample testing kits.
Masks, tools, and other items
When leaving the house for important business, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention altered its earlier policy and suggested that all Americans wear a cotton face mask. Unfortunately, numerous people have been scrambling to find a suitable facial covering, providing even another chance for con artists ever since. In addition, scammers that sold shows digitally to consumers who have never received them have been reported to the Better Business Bureau.
Other masks and other personal protection equipment frauds have included supplied goods that don’t fit the description of what has been offered for sale and a smaller quantity of items than was requested. Fake products are also a concern, particularly for hospitals, which are now battling with legislative bodies for the more durable N95 masks that hospital workers must wear.
Overcharging is a problem as well. It’s certainly a seller’s market right now for all kinds of personal protective equipment, sanitizing wipes, and other cleaning products.
Proceed cautiously if you receive messages or observe social media postings promoting PPE, sanitizing equipment, or other things for sale. You can use BBB’s BadAd application to report overcharging or deception to the organization. On its COVID-19 website, the BBB also offers a wide range of other scam safety and reporting options.
Telehealth
The race to move regular health care to online and remote platforms has created chances for con artists to earn a fast buck. Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth has exploded in popularity. However, this is where the consumers must be cautious, say experts.
One of the challenges of telehealth is maintaining the privacy and the security of health information. Communication platforms that are encrypted are safer than those that are not. One crucial aspect of this is identity verification. The experts advise the customers “to search for the trustworthy name right now” when it comes to the doctor you’re dealing with and what details you disclose online. Also, proceed cautiously if you see an advert or receive emails from doctors and healthcare providers you do not even know offering telehealth services.
Choose a well-known name, such as a local hospital, university medical center, or other well-established health care center, if you’re seeking a new doctor during this outbreak. If you need to find a new provider during this crisis, recognized telehealth firms that collaborate with health care professionals in your state can help.
Analysts also warn against sending sensitive data via email or other unprotected modes of contact. Your Medicare ID number and further private details should be kept safe. According to the FDA, you must never give away this data in return for a freebie.
Economic
This pandemic is producing more than just a global health disaster; it’s also wreaking havoc on the economy, and professional con artists are taking advantage of it. Financial scams have long been a problem in the healthcare industry, and many of them target the elderly, who are less likely to recognize fraud for what it is.
Experts warn that “frauds targeting the elderly are on the rise.” This upward tendency is inclined to maintain if the economy falters.
Scams come in several shapes and sizes, explain experts. For example, phishing emails that pretend to be from the WHO or the CDC and solicit personal or financial information have recently popped up. These are phishing emails, and you should delete them right away. “Consumers mustn’t click on links in emails that need immediate action,” says an expert.
Analysts advocate hanging up and calling the provider or insurer using the provider’s listed phone number if you’re approached by someone posing as a health care professional or your health insurer requesting personal information.
Given the gravity of the issue, con artists may use emotional appeals to persuade people to donate money to charity. Therefore, any unwanted phone calls should be avoided at all costs. Even if the organization appears natural and you want to contribute, disconnect and call them back before providing any financial or personal information. The same can be said for emailed donation appeals. Do not tap upon that email’s link. Instead, create a new browser window and go straight to the website.
As per the Department of Justice, certain illicit websites and apps are exploiting the COVID-19 outbreak to earn clicks and views, potentially exposing your device to attack. These con artists lure you to click on a link or download a programme by posting a “press and hold” article that claims to contain key info on the disease or outbreak. Then, when you’ve viewed the material, the fraudster can obtain access to your devices, seize possession of your data, and demand that you pay a ransom to get it back. This is a fresh take on cryptocurrency scams and blackmail efforts, which have been rising in recent years. So use caution when visiting websites and downloading apps and programs from the internet.
Anyone who asks for money in a prepaid card should be avoided at all costs. This is a sign to be aware of, as these people may return for more money, posing as a relative or friend in crisis who requires assistance.
Unrequested emails or texts and calls from the IRS or the US Department of the Treasury, according to the DOJ, might potentially be frauds. The IRS first contacts individuals by mail, not by phone or email. It would be helpful if you also double-checked that any Treasury checks you receive as part of the CARES Act stimulus package are genuine. Look for the Treasury’s new official seal, leaking ink, microprinting, watermark, and other indications indicating the United States government issued the check. Scammers have started mailing out fraudulent checks that, when deposited, provide them with the information they need to get access to your bank account.
According to the DOJ, any self-proclaimed businessman seeking you for funding in a COVID-19-related invention should be treated with caution. Similarly, be wary of loan proposals that seem to be part of a government stimulus initiative. Before giving out any confidential info, double-check the fine print and recognize who you’re working with. Any unwarranted calls or emails that tend to come from a public health group should be avoided. Also, consider it’s a scam if someone comes to your home advertising any service or product relating to COVID-19. Allow them no access, do not disclose information with them, and report the event to your local authorities.
Seniors, in particular, may be put at even greater risk as a result of the pandemic than they are present. This is because many seniors are likely to be more isolated than younger folks, and because they are more susceptible to the virus’s health impacts, many are concerned about their risk. As a result, they may be more sensitive to a con.
Maintain vigilance.
Being informed and cautious can help you protect yourself or a loved one against COVID-19-related scams. The following are some suggestions for avoiding scammers:
- Don’t accept calls from numbers you don’t recognize. If it’s a real call, the caller will send a text for you to return.
- If you got a call that looks to be genuine, hang up and call back to verify the company or individual who initiated the contact.
- Do not even click links in emails or send personal details to strangers over email.
- Be cautious if an email is tagged urgent or contains forceful language.
- Check the FDA’s list of fake items and businesses that have been forewarned about marketing fraudulent products before buying anything advertised on social media.
- Discuss what to look out for and what to do if they get a questionable email with adult children of elders who may be especially vulnerable to particular scams.
- Make use of your common sense. If something appears too enticing, it most likely is.