(Area) Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving Nebraska, South Dakota, Kansas and SW Iowa has been issuing warnings on pandemic related scams and has been sharing its information with various law enforcement agencies in an effort to aid them in tracking down perpetrators of what has become an epidemic of COVID-19 related crimes. We applaud our Attorney Generals (AGs), the Department of Justice (DOJ) as well as law enforcement agencies across the U. S. for mobilizing to safeguard Americans from COVID-19 related fraud and other illegal activity.
In a recent media release, the DOJ announced that they currently “have received more than 76,000 tips concerning COVID-19-related wrongdoing. Similarly, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center has also received more than 20,000 tips regarding suspicious websites and media postings. These tips, as well as reports made directly to the offices of U.S. Attorneys, FBI field offices, and other law enforcement agencies, have led to federal law enforcement opening hundreds of investigations.”
The DOJ charged its first COVID-19-related fraud case on March 25. Since then, as the result of the department’s outreach, it has filed criminal charges in 33 cases across the country involving scam vaccines, treatments, testing or price gouging in the sale of scarce medical supplies. Additionally, the DOJ has initiated civil actions in 11 cases of fraudulent COVID-19 schemes targeting consumers, including cases against defendants marketing ozone gas, silver-ion solution, and bleach-based solution as treatments.
BBB President and CEO Jim Hegarty stated, “The BBB is deeply committed to exposing scams related to the pandemic and will continue to monitor marketplace activity and issue warnings to protect both consumers and businesses that are being targeted. We are extremely grateful for the efforts being made by law enforcement to investigate these crimes. We predict that going forward there will be attempts by fraudsters to prey upon potential victims by leveraging news about the anticipated approval of a COVID-19 vaccine or about the possible enactment of new disaster relief bills that extend or expand upon the CARES Act.”
With new surges now occurring in COVID-19 positive cases across the U.S., BBB is seeing more people falling for fake COVID-19 tests. People who have been victims of this scam have either received a robocall or saw an ad that directed them to a website that looks like a clinic or medical supply company offering COVID-19 tests. These tests can allegedly identify if you’ve been infected with coronavirus – even if you’ve already recovered. Some even promise results in 10 minutes. To get a test, all you need to do is complete a form or, in other versions, enter your credit card details.
In some cases, the test involves an easy at-home kit. Other times, the tests are allegedly offered through a clinic. But in all versions, the person or website selling the test is short on details. They aren’t willing or able to provide any information about how the test works, where it is sourced, and what laboratory processes it.
Don’t fall for it! These tests are not US Food and Drug Administration approved and will not give accurate results. In fact, you may never even receive an actual test kit. Either way, scammers will have made off with your money and your personal information. BBB advises that if you want to avoid false COVID-19 scams and want to be tested, reach out to your healthcare provider to help you figure out if the test will be covered by insurance and where to find a legitimate clinic. You can also visit your city’s or state’s COVID-19 website to get information on free testing.
