Fake cures, charity scams, hoarding supplies. Beware of COVID-19 fraud and scammers

The novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, has presented an extraordinary public health crisis. Citizens across the Commonwealth and the nation are coping with disruptions to daily lives, and facing increased anxiety and uncertain times.

I want to assure the citizens of the Eastern District of Kentucky that the critical mission of the Department of Justice is continuing. Law enforcement personnel are continuing to investigate crimes and our office is continuing to protect the public, prosecute cases, and represent the interests of the United States. We are committed to continuing to enforce the law and sustaining our communities, especially in this time of crisis.

Unfortunately, we are now seeing that some are seeking to prey on people’s vulnerabilities and to profit from the anxiety from our COVID-19 national emergency. From peddling fake cures and immunity pills, to e-mail phishing schemes, to charity scams and investment scams, to illegally hoarding needed personal protection equipment (PPE) or medical supplies, to price gouging, there are fraudsters who are looking to take advantage of the threats presented by COVID-19.

We are not going to tolerate bad actors who treat this crisis as an opportunity to get rich quick. Our office is working diligently, in partnership with other federal, state, and local law enforcement entities, to aggressively combat COVID-19-related fraud. We intend to accomplish this by two primary means: coordinated and aggressive investigation and prosecution of fraudsters and educating the public about the types of COVID-19 scams being perpetrated.

Swift enforcement actions are necessary and we will move quickly to address those individuals who are taking advantage of people in moments of need. As directed by Attorney General Barr, last week, I designated an experienced Assistant United States Attorney, Paul McCaffrey, to lead our office’s efforts in the investigation and prosecution of COVID-19 related fraud and other criminal conduct. We will use all the tools available to us to prosecute these offenders and bring them to justice. This includes using civil remedies, when appropriate, to stop the commission of fraud upon the public.

Recently, I also announced our participation in the Kentucky Coronavirus Task Force, a joint federal and state partnership between our office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky, the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, and the FBI. The task force’s mission is to identify, investigate, and prosecute fraud related to the ongoing crisis. The task force will review and investigate credible leads of fraud associated with the coronavirus pandemic, focusing on schemes to exploit vulnerable populations, including elderly and concerned citizens, and schemes that endanger health and safety.

Informing the public about how to avoid potential scams is equally critical in the fight to stop COVID-19 fraud. The public should remember the following tips and use common sense, to help keep themselves and their loved ones safe from fraud:

▪ At this time, there is no cure or vaccine for COVID-19. You should ignore offers for a COVID-19 vaccine, cure, or treatment. Remember, if there is a medical breakthrough, you will not hear about it for the first time through an unsolicited email, online ad, or sales pitch.

▪ Kentuckians are generous people and are eager to help each other in times of need. However, scammers look to take advantage of this generosity and goodwill. Before donating to a charity, proceed deliberately. Be cautious of any charity or individual seeking payments or donations made by wire transfer, or by sending cash or gift cards through the mail. You should independently verify the identity of any company, charity, or individual that contacts you regarding COVID-19. Be aware that scammers frequently use email addresses that are very similar to those used by legitimate organizations. For online resources on donating wisely, visit the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) website.

▪ Be wary of unsolicited emails, particularly those that offer information, treatment, or supplies for COVID-19, or that request your personal information for medical purposes. Legitimate health organizations will not contact the general public in this manner.

▪ Do not click on links or open email attachments from unknown or unverified sources. Doing so could download a virus onto your computer or device. Make sure your anti-malware and anti-virus software is operating and up to date.

If you believe you have been a target or victim of a scam or fraud, please report it to the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline, at 866-720-5721 or via email at disaster@leo.gov. Kentuckians can also report online scams and fraud by contacting the FBI, at www.ic3.gov/default.aspx. To file a price gouging complaint, visit AG.ky.gov/pricegouging or call the Consumer Protection Hotline, at 1-888-432-9257.

Federal, state, and local law enforcement are committed to protecting the public, especially in this time of crisis. We are all in the fight against the coronavirus. Working together, we will make it through, stronger than before.

Robert M. Duncan Jr. is the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky.

This story was originally published March 27, 2020 at 12:18 PM.