According to Google, “Scammers are taking advantage of the increase in COVID-19 communications by disguising their scams as legitimate messages about the virus. Alongside emails, scammers may also use text messages, automated calls and malicious websites to reach you.”2

Common types of COVID-19 scams include:

• Fake health organizations. Scammers pose as health authorities like the World Health Organization (WHO) and U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to offer cures, tests, or other COVID-19 information.
• Websites that sell fake products. These sites offer face masks, hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and other high-demand products that never arrive. Buy products from known marketers only.
• Bogus government sources. These scammers claim to issue updates and payments on behalf of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or local tax authority.
• Fraudulent financial offers. Scammers may pose as banks, debt collectors, or investors with offers designed to steal your financial information.
• Fake nonprofit donation requests. Many people like to donate to charitable causes to help with disaster relief. This provides an excellent opportunity for scammers to set up fake nonprofits, hospitals, and other organizations to collect funds. Donate directly through a reputable nonprofit’s website instead of clicking on a link you receive by email or text.