As the U.S. government begins distributing COVID tests and face masks, Americans can be assured of the return of an old scammer trick: crooks masking themselves as official websites. They’ve done it repeatedly with other government agencies and programs, from Social Security to Medicare to the IRS. Your Better Business Bureau (BBB) warns new initiatives such as the recently announced programs to give out free COVID tests and face masks will bring masquerading scammers out yet again. Their goal is the acquisition of your private information to steal your identity and your money.
“It’s disgusting that these bad actors continue to leverage this worldwide crisis for their own economic gain,” said BBB President and CEO Jim Hegarty. “Unfortunately, scams have grown in frequency throughout the pandemic, so we’re doing our utmost to urge consumers to be cautious.”
What to watch for:
When you do an online search or respond to an ad regarding free tests or face masks, you could find yourself directed to a website that looks official. Scammers may have duplicated the look—complete with graphics and logos—of a real government website. There will be a link that you are urged to click on to request your own test or face mask.
Clicking on the link could take you to a form that requests a Social Security number or Medicare ID. It may also…
