COVID-19: Beware Of These Vaccine Scams, FBI, DOJ Warn COVID-19: Beware Of These Vaccine Scams, FBI, DOJ Warn
Covid-19: Beware Of These Vaccine Scams, FBI, DOJ Warn Scammers are using the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines in the United States to trick people into paying for doses or early access that never comes, federal authorities are warning. As COVID-19 vaccines become more available, there has been a spike in scams seeking to exploit people’s desire to protect themselves and their loved ones from the virus, according to the U.S. Department of Justice as well as local police departments and other law enforcement agencies. “Members of the public should be suspicious of unexpected or unsolicited contact from anyone unknown to them claiming to have inform…
COVID-19: Alert Issued For Fake Mask Exempt Cards Being Sold Online COVID-19: Alert Issued For Fake Mask Exempt Cards Being Sold Online
Covid-19: Alert Issued For Fake Mask Exempt Cards Being Sold Online While mask-wearing amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has become politicized, federal officials are cautioning of a new scam for fraudulent face mask exempt flyers that have been circulating online. The Department of Justice has issued a warning of a card that has been circulating online which falsely claims its holder is exempt from wearing a mask - contrary to local, state, and federal mandates. The cards are purportedly from the “Freedom to Breathe Agency” - which is not an official federal or state agency - and states that wearing a mask will incur mental or physical risk fo…
Here's How You Can Avoid Being Reeled In By Mail Fishing Here's How You Can Avoid Being Reeled In By Mail Fishing
Here's How You Can Avoid Being Reeled In By Mail Fishing Though it’s not officially fishing season, police are cautioning area residents to be wary of scammers going “fishing” in United States Postal Service mailboxes. Law enforcement agencies in the tri-state area issued alerts warning of scammers who have been making the rounds “fishing” in USPS mailboxes in an attempt to steal checks and personal information. Police said that “mail fishing” is a crime that involves thieves using a weighted object that is attached to a string or wire and covered in a sticky substance to retrieve mail from out of postal boxes. According to police, “‘mail fisher…
COVID-19: Beware Of Scammers Posing As Contact Tracers, FTC Says COVID-19: Beware Of Scammers Posing As Contact Tracers, FTC Says
Covid-19: Beware Of Scammers Posing As Contact Tracers, FTC Says Some opportunistic fraudsters are taking advantage of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis by posing as contact tracers hired by the state to obtain personal information and money. Since the outbreak began, state officials have stressed the importance of ramping up COVID-19 testing, then tracing the people they’ve come into contact with, and isolating those people. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “contact tracing, a core disease control measure employed by local and state health department personnel for decades, is a key strategy for preventing further spread…
COVID-19: Alert Issued For Testing, Supply, Other New Scams COVID-19: Alert Issued For Testing, Supply, Other New Scams
Covid-19: Alert Issued For Testing, Supply, Other New Scams The United States Postal Inspection Service is warning consumers to be wary of opportunistic fraudsters looking to take advantage of fear-mongering during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. An alert was issued by the USPIS due to scammers who have “identified the public’s concern as a target for scams and fraud.” Current scams that have been reported include testing scams, supply scams, provider scams, app scams and investment scams, each of which is designed to convince targets to hand over money during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to USPIS, to protect oneself from COVID-19 sca…
Duo Nabbed For Attempting To Scam Long Island Woman Out Of Thousands, Police Say Duo Nabbed For Attempting To Scam Long Island Woman Out Of Thousands, Police Say
Duo Nabbed For Attempting To Scam Long Island Woman Out Of Thousands, Police Say Two fraudsters attempted to bilk a Long Island woman out of thousands of dollars by pretending her grandson had been involved in a drunk driving crash, police said. A 95-year-old Lindenhurst resident was contacted by two men who stated that her grandson was in a drunk driving crash and required $8,000 cash to cover bail and attorney fees. The callers directed her to place the cash in her mailbox and they would come by to pick up the money. Police said that the woman said she would comply, even though she knew it was a scam and alerted detectives at the Suffolk County Police Department. Off…
Police Intercept Cash Sent By Long Island Man As Part Of Phone Scam Police Intercept Cash Sent By Long Island Man As Part Of Phone Scam
Police Intercept Cash Sent By Long Island Man As Part Of Phone Scam Quick-acting police investigators on Long Island were able to save an elderly man thousands of dollars after he was caught up in a grandparent scam. Suffolk County Police Financial Crimes Unit detectives and members of the United States Postal Inspection Service intercepted cash sent by a St. James man as part of a phone scam this week. Police said that a 79-year-old man in St. James received a phone call on Wednesday, April 8 from scammers who claimed that his grandson had been involved in a motor vehicle crash and was arrested. The caller said that the man needed to send $9,500 to an addr…
COVID-19: Nassau County District Attorney Announces Launch Of Scam Hotline COVID-19: Nassau County District Attorney Announces Launch Of Scam Hotline
Covid-19: Nassau County District Attorney Announces Launch Of Scam Hotline As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread on Long Island so to do reports of scammers looking to take advantage of the pandemic, prompting Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas to take action. Singas announced the creation of Nassau County’s “Coronavirus Scam Hotline,” which will allow area residents to report possible scams to the DA’s Financial Crimes Bureau. According to the District Attorney, her office has been receiving reports of new identity theft scams and opportunistic schemes peddling fake tests and bogus calls. Anyone who believes they had been targeted …
COVID-19: Be Aware Of These Scams, Police Say COVID-19: Be Aware Of These Scams, Police Say
Covid-19: Be Aware Of These Scams, Police Say Police agencies in the area are cautioning residents to be vigilant and wary of potential scams surrounding the fear of the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19). There have been reports of: Individuals and businesses selling fake cures for COVID-19 online and engaging in other forms of fraud. Phishing emails from entities posing as the World Health Organization or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Malicious websites and apps that appear to share virus-related information to gain and lock access to your devices until payment is received. Seeking donations fraudulently for ille…
COVID-19: Stop Selling Bogus 'Coronavirus-Killing' Devices, State AG Tells Scammers COVID-19: Stop Selling Bogus 'Coronavirus-Killing' Devices, State AG Tells Scammers
Covid-19: Stop Selling Bogus 'Coronavirus-Killing' Devices, State AG Tells Scammers The New York Attorney General is striking back against scammers who have been marketing and selling phony “novel coronavirus-killing” devices. Three companies have allegedly been misrepresenting to consumers that COVID-19 is a primarily airborne disease and that its air purifiers can effectively prevent people from contracting the virus by removing the virus particles from the air.  On Thursday, March 26, James announced that she ordered AllerAir Industries, Airpura Industries, and Sylvane, Inc., to cease and desist marketing their products as tools that can prevent the spread of the v…
COVID-19 Scams: Texts, Emails Promise Updates On Latest Cases COVID-19 Scams: Texts, Emails Promise Updates On Latest Cases
Covid-19 Scams: Texts, Emails Promise Updates On Latest Cases The global outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) has led to a rash of new scams from fear-mongering fraudsters, officials warned. Scams ranging from texts and emails from scammers posing as health officials and other professionals to others brewing up phony vaccines and cleaning cocktails have become more prevalent in the weeks since the COVID-19 outbreak, the United States Attorney General’s Office announced. According to the FTC, to help weed out scammers, the organization has issued a joint statement with the FDA to seven sellers of unapproved and misbranded products, cl…
COVID-19: Justice Department Issues Alert For These Scams COVID-19: Justice Department Issues Alert For These Scams
Covid-19: Justice Department Issues Alert For These Scams The United States Justice Department of Justice is warning the public to be wary of opportunistic fraudsters who have been fear-mongering in the wake of fears of coronavirus. Attorney General William Barr issued an alert warning of fraud schemes related to the COVID-19 outbreak, as he begins to investigate and prosecute scammers. According to Barr, he has directed United States attorneys to prioritize and investigate the prosecution of coronavirus-related fraud schemes. Each has been directed to appoint a Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator to serve as the legal counsel for the federal judicial d…