Watch out for scams
Many of the people in the United States are soon to receive some extra cash in their pocket to help them cope through the Covid-19 crisis and to ultimately stimulate the economy. Since this is unprecedented there is a lot of confusion over who gets money and how that money is distributed. Moreover, those that have money to help people in times of disaster also can fall prey to these professional scammers.
These fraudsters are very good at what they do. They will take advantage of people’s hardship or a good Samaritan’s desire to help. Many times they will use names of organizations or government entities like the IRS, United Way, and the Red Cross, etc. to garner trust from a caller or an email. As a rule, it is best not to respond to an email or a call from one of these organizations, because many of them do not even do business this way. In fact. Several local and state leaders have issued warnings in the face of a problem that is already upon us.
Atlanta PD reminds residents that, "with the stimulus package in place don’t fall for scams. The IRS isn’t going to call you on the phone and ask for your bank account or your personal information. The IRS communicates through the U.S. Mail, don’t become a victim from someone on the phone. Everyone have a safe day."
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton continues to caution Texans about scams emerging during the statewide Coronavirus disaster declaration announced by Governor Abbott.
Paxton says that "Several cyber scams involving false emails or text messages have been reported, and Attorney General Paxton advises all Texans to be on alert for electronic communications with dangerous attachments or fraudulent website links. Unscrupulous actors send these messages with the intention of deceiving citizens into revealing sensitive information or donating to false charities. Any email or social media post with a Coronavirus (COVID-19) subject line, attachment or hyperlink should be treated with caution."
Paxton also cautions people to remember these tips to avoid cyber scams:
Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails and be wary of email attachments.
Use trusted sources like legitimate, government websites for up-to-date, fact-based information about COVID-19.
Do not reveal any personal or financial information in an email, and do not respond to any email solicitations for this information.
Verify a charity’s authenticity before making donations.
Local historian Evan Evans passed on his thoughts after receiving an email to the paper, "This is just the way the world is. I received this e-mail warning me about a scam e-mail from a Department Commander of the American Legion soliciting contributions to aid people with the Coronavirus. There are thousands of unscrupulous people out there trying to get your money so any time you receive an e-mail request for a donation to aid people with the Coronavirus, or a donation for a political campaign, or any other charitable group be sure to carefully vet the request. Don’t just look at the name of the sender of the e-mail but look at the actual sender’s e-mail address to see if it is the same one that the sender has always used. If the e-mail has a link to a website, don’t even click on it unless you are sure you know where that link is taking you. And always remember the old axiom ’If I didn’t call you, but you called me, I am not going to give you any information or any of my money.’"
The Attorney General reminds individuals that "the current disaster declaration is effective across the entire state, and under Texas consumer protection statutes, it is illegal for a person to take advantage of a disaster declaration by engaging in deceptive trade practices."
"Texans who believe they have encountered disaster scams should call the Office of the Attorney General’s toll-free complaint line at (800) 621-0508 or file a complaint online. For additional information on disaster scams, please visit our disaster scams website," says Paxton.