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### **COVID-19 Scams: Engaging with and Protecting the Community**

April 2020 | Volume 13 | Issue 4

During a crisis, scammers seek to profit from public panic.  Amid the fear and anxiety of COVID-19, a number of fraudulent schemes related  to COVID-19 have already been identified. Communities must be vigilant in  identifying and publicizing these scams in order to protect their most  vulnerable members. State and local authorities have their federal partners’  support and encouragement to investigate and prosecute scammers perpetrating criminal  acts. In addition, a number of federal agencies have websites and other resources  to support state and local partners during the crisis response with the most  updated information. 

 The central repository for U.S. government resources and  information on the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) crisis is https://www.coronavirus.gov/. There is  also a Spanish-language site, Respuesta  del Gobierno ante el coronavirus. These websites are supported by the  Center for Disease Control (CDC) coronavirus  medical response website.

##### *Check the Address!*

An easy method to verify if an email is fraudulent is to look at the sender’s email address. An email from your bank or cable provider should not have an email address like ‘customerserbnoreaplythismailer.idcase6763@tukikc.info’. 

##### *Be Smart About Donations!*

An easy way to limit the financial damages of scammers is to have one credit card that is solely used for online purchases, donations, and travel. This credit card should not be connected to personal checking and savings accounts. Fraudulent charges on credit cards are limited to $50 maximum for the holder, and cards can be canceled or replaced with minimum effort. 

 The Department of Justice (DOJ) Report COVID-19 Fraud website includes  a list of federal partners that can support local and multijurisdictional  investigations of scammers. In addition, the DOJ has identified a number of common  scams, and the steps community members can take to avoid being victimized:
          - Individuals and businesses selling fake cures for COVID-19.  There is no cure for COVID-19. Any medical advice should be verified with one’s  personal GP or local medical provider.
          - Phishing emails from ‘official’ entities posing as the World  Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or state  health insurance agencies . To verify the information in any  official-looking email, open a new webpage and access the agency website  directly. Verify that the web address is correct: government agency websites  will have domain names that are clear and end in .gov, .org, or .int. Remember:  Google is not a government organization! 
          - Malicious websites and apps about the virus that disable  personal devices.  Do not open any website address or app  embedded in emails, social media, or text messages. Open your device app store  and search for the app by name instead.
          - Emails from ‘legitimate’ companies flagging fraudulent account  activity.  Never open any files or links in an email. If you  have an account with the company, always open a new browser tab and search for  the organization’s official website. 
          - Emails or other contacts seeking donations fraudulently for  illegitimate or nonexistent charitable organizations.  Fraudulent organizations can collect donations via legitimate sites such as Venmo  or Kickstarter. Always use a credit card for any donations and  never  provide  bank information over the phone or online. 

During the COVID-19 crisis, law enforcement agencies can  use social media to engage with the public about scams, along with sharing news  updates and positive stories of first responders helping during the crisis. Be  sure to share both local and national resources on identifying and reporting  scammers, since stories on social media may spread beyond your local area. Law  enforcement agencies can work with partners such as the county or state victim  services, local U.S.  Attorney’s offices, school districts, and local government. Social media  promotion with local partners multiplies the positive impact for communities  and creates a network of verified, trusted partners.

 The federal government maintains a digital services website that provides  guidance, including multiple resources on social media engagement during the  crisis: Coronavirus  (COVID-19) Guidance for U.S. Government Websites and Social Media. 

 During the COVID-19 crisis, public trust in law  enforcement is essential, and the community looks to police and sheriffs to  maintain safety and act as an information resource. More than ever during the  crisis, law enforcement is integral to the community structure, and the federal  government supports state, local, and tribal partners in their work.

#####  Federal Resources

FEMA  Coronavirus Rumor ControlFBI  Internet Crime Complaint CenterNational  Center for Disaster FraudBuilding  Productive Relationships With Media: Dealing with the New Media Culture During  Crisis Situations

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The Community Policing Dispatch is the e-newsletter of the COPS Office. 

The Community Policing Dispatch is the e-newsletter of the COPS Office. 

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