Beware of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Scams

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Scam Alert

Written By Patrice Dollar, Family
Resource Management Associate

You should always be on alert for scams, but particularly for scams
involving the coronavirus. Scammers are peddling scary scenarios,
fake miracle cures, door-to-door sanitization services, robocalls
that pitch treatments, official-looking phishing emails, social media
scams and government impostor scams.

Scammers don’t care who they scam while using fear of the virus to
convince people to buy into their false claims. Seniors are often the
target of these scams, however, scammers look around every corner
for a potential target. Generally, they are hoping to gain access to
financial information or to fool you out of your hard-earned money.
Some tips for avoiding scams include:

  • Ignore online offers for home test kits to treat the virus. At this time, there are no Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized home test kits. Visit the FDA website to learn more about COVID-19 and about new developments in treatments and tests.
  • Check the FTC Coronavirus website for coronavirus scams, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and FDA have jointly issued warning letters to companies claiming to have products that can prevent or cure the virus.
  • Report scams to the N.C. Attorney General’s office. To make a complaint, provide copies of supporting documents like receipts, warranties, and contracts. Visit the website to submit a complaint. Due to the coronavirus, the office is not able to process complaints that are mailed in, so residents are asked to submit complaints and supporting documents online or call 919-716-6000.

Consumer Protection Division
Attorney General’s Office
9001 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-9001

Toll-free within North Carolina:
1-877-5-NO-SCAM
From outside North Carolina:
919-716-6000
En Espanol: 919-716-0058

For more information, contact Patrice Dollar, Family
Resource Management Associate, at pgdollar@ncat.edu.

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