Tips to Prevent COVID-19 Fraud
Posted On April 14, 2020
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (CCSAO) is working with law enforcement partners to alert the public of criminal and civil schemes that are aimed at exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents are reminded to exercise caution and practice the following steps:
- Before donating to a charitable entity, verify that the organization is legitimate through the Illinois Attorney General’s Office.
- Never send cash by mail and avoid wire transfers to any entity purporting to be a charitable organization.
- Be wary of anyone offering unverified vaccines, cures, or treatments for COVID-19.
- Stimulus checks will be provided directly by the IRS without any action needed from you.
- You do not need to verify information or pay any fees to receive stimulus money.
- Anyone claiming to be a government representative asking for such information should be reported to the IRS (phishing@irs.gov) or the CCSAO (312-603-8600).
- Do not click on links in text messages, emails, or social media accounts that were unsolicited or from sources you don’t know.
- Be on the lookout for counterfeit goods and price gouging.
- With the increased demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) and ordinary household items, citizens should report individuals attempting to profit off the global pandemic.
- Avoid providing your social security number, birthday, or banking information to any entity, especially over the phone.
Visit CookCountyStatesAttorney.org for more information.