The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) wants consumers to know that COVID-19 test kits are in such short supply that scammers are jumping in the fray to “help” with shortages. Fraudsters are going as far as creating fake COVID-19 testing sites to market fake and unauthorized at-home testing kits. Complicating matters, the FTC says, is that those fake websites are so authentic-looking that they’re hard to spot.
“They look real, with legitimate-looking signs, tents, hazmat suits, and realistic-looking tests,” said Ari Lazarus, a consumer education specialist with the FTC. “And the damage these fake testing sites can cause is very real.”
The scammers are luring in victims by hawking “free” test kits, but what they’re really after is personal information like Social Security numbers, credit card information, and other health data. All of that information can be leveraged for identity theft or to run up a person’s credit card bill.
“Worst of all, they’re not giving people the help they need to stay healthy,” Lazarus said.
What to be on the lookout for
The FTC cautions consumers that there are four things to keep in mind when looking into testing sites. Here are the things the agency says to do:
Get a referral. Instead of trying to figure out whether a site is legitimate on your own, the FTC suggests that you go somewhere you have been referred to by your doctor or state or local health department. In short, don’t…
