US Attorney warns residents of COVID-19 Scams

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is warning residents to watch-out for COVID-19 scams.

Some of the more common COVID-19 scams are: Treatment scams, where scammers are selling fake vaccines, medicines, and cures for COVID-19.

Supply scams in which scammers are claiming they have in-demand products, like cleaning and household supplies, and medical supplies, but when an order is placed, the scammer takes the money and never delivers the order.

Charity scams that involve scammers fraudulently soliciting donations for non-existent charities to help people affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

Scammers often use names that are similar to the names of real charities.

Phishing scams where scammers, posing as national and global health authorities, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are sending fake emails and texts to trick the recipient into sharing personal information like account numbers, Social Security numbers, and login IDs and passwords.

App scams that involve scammers creating COVID-19 related apps that contain malware designed to steal the user’s personal information.

Provider scams in which scammers pretend to be doctors and hospitals demand payment for COVID-19 treatment allegedly provided to a friend or family member of the victim.

Investment scams in which to promote the sale of stock in certain companies—particularly small companies, about which there is little publicly available information—scammers are making false and misleading claims that those companies can prevent, detect or cure COVID-19.

The Consumer Protection Division (CPD) of the Office of the Attorney General of Georgia has received more than 600 complaints of price gouging or scams related to COVID-19, the majority regarding food, toilet paper, water and hand sanitizer.

The public can file complaints with the CPD by calling 800-869-1123 or online at www.consumer.ga.gov.