Consumer Protections and Scams: What Should I Know to Avoid Scams During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

The Ohio Attorney General (OAG) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have identified an increase in scams during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What Do Scams Look Like?

Attempt to sell you “at-home COVID-19 testing kits”
Attempt to sell you pills, vaccines, lotions, lozenges or other prescription or over-the-counter products to “treat” or “cure” COVID-19
Falsely claim to represent organizations, like the World Health Organization, and solicit donations in the form of cash, gift cards, wire transfers or prepaid money cards
Promise to get your stimulus check from the federal government early if you provide your personal of financial information
Send you a link to a false Census website and tell you that if you do not complete the 2020 census, you will not receive a stimulus check from the federal government
Threaten termination of your Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamp or other benefits due to COVID-19 and ask for personal, financial or medical information; or payments, gift card purchases or wire transfers to maintain your benefits

What Should I Do Generally to Be Safe?

Never give your personal information to someone calling you in relation to COVID-19. This includes your name, the name of anyone you live with, insurance information, your home address, any financial information, or your social security number.
Never follow a prompt to press a button on a robocall. This includes if the prompt is to make the calls stop. Hang up immediately if you answer a robocall.
Scammers can use social media accounts of people you do know to increase the chance of you providing information. If you receive a suspicious message on social media from a friend, reach out to that person separately to make sure it was actually them.

Scams Related to COVID-19 Tests, Treatments and Cures?

There is currently no at-home test for COVID-19 and there are no reputable agencies offering at-home testing
There are currently no pills, vaccines, lotions, lozenges or other prescription or over-the-counter products available to treat or cure COVID-19 online or in stores

Scams Related to Charitable Donations?

Be cautious of organization or crowdsourcing fundraisers soliciting donations. Do your own research on organizations before donation.
Legitimate organizations rarely, if ever, accept donations in the form of cash, gift cards, wire transfer or prepaid money cards. Be suspicious of organizations soliciting these types of donations.
A database of registered charities in Ohio can be found here.

Scams Related to Federal Stimulus Checks?

Details about stimulus checks from the government are still being worked out. Scammers will tell you they can get you the money now.
The government will not ask you to pay anything up front to get this money. No fees. No charges.
The government will not call to ask for your Social Security number, bank account, or credit card number.

Scams Related to Social Security (SS)?

Social Security won’t threaten you with benefit suspension, arrest or other legal action and demand a fine or fee to prevent benefit suspension
SS will not promise a benefit increase or other assistance in exchange for payment
SS will not require payment by retail gift card, cash, wire transfer, internet currency, or prepaid debit card
SS will not demand secrecy from you in handling a Social Security-related problem
SS will not email you with attachments containing personally identifiable information.
To report Social Security scams about COVID-19, visit https://oig.ssa.gov/.

Scams Related to Medicare?

Medicare will never contact you for your Medicare Number or other personal information unless you’ve given them permission in advance
Medicare will never call you to sell anything
You may get calls from people promising you things if you give them a Medicare Number. Do not do it.
Medicare will never visit you at your home
Medicare can’t enroll you over the phone unless you called first

Where Can I Get Reliable Information?