Beware Scammers During Coronavirus Quarantine, Prosecutor Advises

CAMDEN COUNTY, NJ — Scammers are still looking victims to prey on, even though they’re not supposed to leave their homes. On Wednesday, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office provided tips on how to avoid falling victim to the latest scams.

One of the main ways scammers are trying to get money is through phishing emails that are designed to look like they’re sent from a government organization, according to the prosecutor’s office. When a person clicks on the link, malware infects the computer and the only way to remove it is through paying the scammer a fee.

Anyone who receives an email that contains links should hover their cursor over the link so the website address appears, detectives said. If that address looks suspicious or doesn’t link to a .gov website, it’s best not to click it.

Anyone who receives a phone call from someone claiming to be from a charitable organization soliciting donations should ask them for their federal employer identification number and contact information so you can hang up and verify its existence first before donating, according to detectives.

“Just because businesses are closed, doesn’t mean scammers stop trying to target people, especially the elderly who might not know all the ways to protect themselves,” Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer said. “Use this time to talk to your family members about the risks of being scammed during the COVID-19 outbreak and educate them on the different ways they can respond.”

Anyone who receives a call or email that is suspicious can report it to the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or email disaster@leo.gov. You can also report it to the FBI by visiting tips.fbi.gov.