The Lassen County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents to be warry as a flurry of COVID-19 related scams are being reported across the country.
“The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General released a memorandum regarding schemes related to COVID-19,” explains Lieutenant Dave Woginrich. “Unfortunately, there have been reports received throughout the United States of individuals and businesses engaging in a wide range of fraudulent and criminal behavior.”
According to Woginrich these criminal behaviors include, but are not limited to:
- Robocalls making fraudulent offers to sell respirator masks with no intent of delivery
- Fake COVID-19-related apps and websites that install malware or ransomware
- Phishing emails asking for money or presenting malware
- Social media scams fraudulently seeking donations or claiming to provide stimulus funds if the recipient enters his or her bank account number
- Sales of fake testing kits, cures, “immunity” pills, and protective equipment
- Fraudulent offers for free COVID-19 testing in order to obtain Medicare beneficiary information that is used to submit false medical claims for unrelated, unnecessary, or fictitious testing or services
- Prescription drug schemes involving the submission of medical claims for unnecessary antiretroviral treatments or other drugs that are marketed as purported cures for COVID-19
- Robberies of patients departing from hospitals or doctor offices
- Threats of violence against mayors and other public officials
- Threats to intentionally infect other people
“The Lassen County Sheriff’s Office would like to stress to the community to take caution when receiving phone calls or offers of assistance from unreliable sources relating to COVID-19. Citizens are encouraged to report these types of schemes immediately to a law enforcement agency.”
