CHIEF'S CORNER - COVID-19 & Scams
According to the Federal Trade Commission - Crooks use clever schemes to defraud millions of people every year. They often combine sophisticated technology with age-old tricks to get people to send money or give out personal information. They add new twists to old schemes and pressure people to make important decisions on the spot. One thing that never changes: they follow the headlines — and the money, and COVID-19 is no exception.
Scammers can come in the form of those going door to door, via our cellphones, email addresses and even through the mail.
We would like to remind our citizens to be wary of scams, especially as they relate to COVID-19
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Scammers know how to prey on emotions or in crisis. They will often use high pressure tactics and threats of arrest, cutting off services, benefits and the like.
Some recent scams we have seen as they relate to COVID-19 include subjects representing themselves as government employees going door-to-door offering COVID-19 testing. NO healthcare provider, law enforcement or any government agency is going door-to-door testing for Coronavirus. If you see anyone offering such a service, don’t fall for it.
Another one we have seen is letters, text messages, emails and/or phone calls from scammers in an attempt to gain access to personal and financial information by promising government assistance, stimulus checks and other forms of assistance for those who have been impacted by COVID-19.
We are still early on in this event, so there may be other forms of scams making their way around. We urge you to ONLY go to trusted and confirmed sources for information. Also be sure to verify claims through an independent source before providing any personal information to anyone.
If you are unsure if a claim is legitimate before providing any information or consenting to services, contact us on our business line at 951-769-8500.
We thank the community for their diligence during these very trying times. We understand the public’s fear and apprehension but want to assure you we are committed to protecting the health and safety of our community.
