Scams Related to COVID-19
Recently, scams related to COVID-19 have increased. We would like to remind you that scams can be presented to you in many forms. For your protection, we would like you to be aware of warning signs. Below are tips to help you protect yourself from fraud:
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Beware of Contact Tracer Scams. Legitimate tracers will only ask you for health information and will never ask you for money or personal financial information.
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Do not respond to texts, emails, or calls about checks from the government.
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Please ignore offers of free vaccinations and home tests kits. Scammers are selling products to treat or prevent COVID-19 without proof that they work.
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Be cautious of ads selling test kits. Most test kits being advertised have not been approved by the FDA and are not necessarily accurate.
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Hang up on robocalls. Scammers are using illegal robocalls to pitch everything from low-priced health insurance to work-from-home schemes.
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Watch out for emails claiming to be from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) or World Health Organization (WHO). Use sites like coronavirus.gov and usa.gov/coronavirus to get the latest information.
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Don’t click links from sources you do not know.
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If you apply for any type of government assistance, please ensure you are using a government site (.gov) and not an intermediary. Other sites usually lead to frauds and your personal information getting into the hands of a fraudster.
If you are contacted by someone claiming they can assist you in getting COVID19 related benefits, please contact the PEFCU’s Loss Prevention Department at (800) 226-6673, and we will investigate this for you.
