What are the most common types of fraud happening:
Stimulus Check Scams - "If someone claims to be from the government with a check for you, it may be a phishing scam that is illegally trying to obtain your bank account or other personal information," New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement. "Do not pay anyone who promises that they can expedite or obtain a payment or a loan for you," James continued. "If you are eligible for relief, you will not need to make any up-front payment or pay any fee to receive a stimulus payment."
Test Scams - "If you want to receive a free testing kit delivered overnight to your home, press 1," a voice on one of the calls says. "Protect your loved ones from the Coronavirus."
Infection Scams - "People are getting calls at home and being told by the local health department that they have come into contact with someone who has the Coronavirus," North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein warned in a news conference last week.
Impersonation Schemes – when fraudsters contact you pretending to be your credit union or another organization. They’ll ask for your account information, passwords and other sensitive information to log in to your accounts.
Fake Charities – fraudsters will slightly alter the name of a legitimate charity to look real. Members should be wary of any unsolicited requests for donations.
Peer-to-peer (P2P) Payment App Fraud – this type of fraud is expected to increase as it becomes the fraudsters’ choice method for stealing funds from members by scamming them into transferring money through open payment apps like Zelle and Venmo.
Investment Scams – Be wary of promotions that falsely claim the products or services of publicly traded companies can prevent, detect, or cure Coronavirus.
Product Scams - Be aware of companies "selling unapproved or mis-branded products that make false health claims pertaining to COVID-19", such as a suspected scammer trying to advertise a cleaning service that purported to eliminate the virus from the air in Americans' homes.
How to Prevent Fraud:
Pay attention to calls from organizations and financial institutions asking you to login to your account when you’ve been inactive.
Be aware of fake emails from institutions asking you to take action, clicking a link, or downloading a document. Even if you recognize the name of the institution, fraudsters will slightly alter the name and branding. Especially don’t click on links from sources you don’t know. They could download viruses onto your computer or device. Make sure the anti-malware and anti-virus software on your computer is up to date.
Be aware of unsolicited SMS/texts, especially when you haven’t requested one.
Be careful of using open systems for online payment transfers, like Zelle and Venmo, to pay anyone you do not know personally. Most credit unions offer a secure payment feature through their online banking and mobile app.
Watch for emails claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or experts saying that they have information about the virus. For the most up-to-date information about the Coronavirus, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Do your homework when it comes to donations, whether through charities or crowdfunding sites. Don’t let anyone rush you into making a donation. If someone wants donations in cash, by gift card, or by wiring money, don’t do it.