COVID-19 computer scams – warning for 2nd stimulus checks
Uncategorized December 30th, 2020All eligible recipients for 2nd wave of stimulus checks should be careful with all email, phone calls, etc. as over $200 million of fraudulent activity has occurred. CNBC has an in-depth article which includes 5 key “red flag” warnings to avoid being scammed.
Stimulus check scams: here are red flags to watch for (cnbc.com)
Americans lost over $211 million to Covid-19 scams and stimulus payment fraud, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Since January, the agency has received over 275,600 complaints. While fraud activity is down from the highs recorded earlier in the year, it will likely pick back up now that President Donald Trump has signed the $900 billion pandemic relief package, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021.
2. Messages that ask to “verify” or provide information
3. High-pressure tactics
4. There’s a fee involved
5. Lookalike checks