Beware Coronavirus Scams: Westchester County DA

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — There have been no reports of scams in Westchester, but given that it is the epicenter of New York's outbreak of the new coronavirus, District Attorney Anthony Scarpino has directed the Westchester Intelligence Center to monitor interagency data and alerts for potential fraud.

As of Thursday morning, there were 217 cases in New York State. In the Hudson Valley, there were 121 cases in Westchester, six in Rockland, two in Ulster and one in Orange County.

Scarpino said his office is also monitoring social media, looking for those spreading false information and trolling for cybervictims related to the virus outbreak.

In addition, he said the DA’s Office is amplifying warnings regarding the coronavirus and actions being taken by other state and federal offices including the New York attorney general, Federal Trade Commission, Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Secret Service, Department of Homeland Security and other law enforcement agencies.

On Wednesday, New York Attorney General Letitia James ordered two companies to immediately cease and desist selling and marketing products as a treatment or cure for the new coronavirus.

The first notice was sent to The Silver Edge company, which claims its Micro-Particle Colloidal Silver Generator “beats coronavirus” and that there is “clinical documentation” to prove it.

The second notice was sent to Dr. Sherrill Sellman, who has been marketing colloidal silver products as a cure for coronavirus and selling them on her website and on the "Jim Bakker Show."

"If you have fallen victim to any of these kinds of scams, keep any written or digital records you may have, and notify the DA’s Office at 914-995-3414," Scarpino said. "We encourage you to turn to trusted sources of information—such as legitimate, government websites—for up-to-date, fact-based information about COVID-19."

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Tips to avoid being victimized by scams:

• Only give money to legitimate charities: If you receive phone calls asking for charitable donations related to coronavirus outbreaks either in the United States or oversees, do not give credit card information. Do not send money or gift cards.
• Avoid email phishing attacks: Malicious cyberthieves could take advantage of public concern surrounding COVID-19 (coronavirus) by conducting phishing attacks and disinformation campaigns. Phishing attacks often use a combination of email and bogus websites to trick victims into revealing sensitive information. People are encouraged to guard against COVID-19-related phishing attacks and disinformation campaigns by taking the following precautions: Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails and be wary of email attachments. Do not reveal personal or financial information in emails, and do not respond to email solicitations for this information.
• If online fundraisers such as GoFundMe campaigns are being circulated, do not respond unless you personally know the recipient of the money.
• Bogus products: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are currently no products, drugs, supplements or vaccines available to target or help cure COVID19. Whether sold via email, over the internet or door-to-door, DO NOT BUY.

There is currently no Food and Drug Administration-approved vaccine to prevent the disease or treatment to cure it, and the World Health Organization has also said that there is no specific medicine to prevent or treat this disease.

“Falsely marketing products as a treatment for a serious disease and charging steep prices is deeply unethical and unlawful,” James said in her announcement. “We will continue to go after any company that attempts to deceive the public, especially during this public health crisis."

James recently ordered the "Jim Bakker Show" to stop marketing Sellman’s Silver Solution products as a treatment for coronavirus after claiming on television that they were proven to treat strains of the virus.

And the Micro-Particle Colloidal Silver Generator — which retails for $249.95 — is currently sold out, suggesting that many individuals might believe the company’s deceptive marketing, authorities said.

Beyond this fraud, both companies also tout the use of colloidal silver as the main ingredient in their products. According to the National Institutes of Health, colloidal silver can actually be dangerous to a person’s health, and the FDA has warned that colloidal silver is not safe or effective for treating any disease or condition. Countless scientific studies have also determined that there is no evidence to support the use of colloidal silver as a treatment for any disease or condition.

In addition to ordering the companies to immediately cease and desist these activities, the Office of the Attorney General also ordered Sellman to immediately affix a disclaimer on her website to make clear that her products have not been evaluated by the FDA and that none of her products are intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

New Yorkers can call the state hotline at 888-364-3065, where experts can answer questions regarding the new coronavirus. In addition, the health department has a dedicated website that was created as a resource with updated information for New Yorkers.

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