Page 8 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2020 Protect your wallet – and your health – from pandemic scammers FBI exec discusses COVID-19-related schemes I n a recent interview, the head of the FBI’s Financial Crimes Section, Steven Merrill, discussed scams and crimes related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Merrill gave the latest information on the schemes the FBI is investigating and tips on how to protect yourself. Q: Why is this pandemic, or any disaster, such an opportunity for scammers and criminals? A: Unfortunately, criminals are very opportunistic. They see a vulnerable population out there that they can prey upon. People are scared and looking for help. People are trying to protect themselves and their families. For example, people are looking for medical attention and medical equipment. They also may be unemployed and looking for work. There may be an extra level of desperation right now that may cause someone to make an emotional decision that could make them a victim. Q: What are some of the most common fraud schemes you’re seeing? A: One of the most prevalent schemes we’re seeing is government impersonators. Criminals are reaching out to people through social media, emails, or phone calls pretending to be from the government. In some cases, they’re even going door-to-door to try to convince someone that they need to provide money for COVID testing, financial relief, or medical equipment. We are a very trusting society, but it’s important to know that the government will not reach out to you this way. If someone reaches out to you directly and says they’re from the government helping you with virusrelated issues, it’s likely a scam. This “government” representative may be trying to use phishing or other techniques to hack your computer or get your personal information or money. Right now, the threat we’re most concerned about is fake cures or treatments for the virus. These “cures” can be extremely dangerous to your health – even fatal. You should never accept a medical treatment or virus test from anyone other than your doctor, pharmacist, or local health department. People who are at home and out of work are vulnerable to work-from-home scams. If someone you don’t know contacts you and wants you to urgently pay them in return for a “job,” you are dealing with a criminal. Legitimate jobs will not ask you to pay them. If you’re in a role like this where you’re being asked to send or move money, you’re acting as a money mule, which is a federal crime. One of the most lucrative schemes for criminals is offering you an opportunity to invest in a cure or treatment for the virus. The purpose of these get-rich-quick schemes is simply to defraud the investor. Any offer like this should be treated with extreme caution. Q: What potential scams should people be aware of regarding government financial benefits? A: The government will not ask you for personal information to give you your financial benefits. If you receive an email, text message, or phone call claiming to help you get your benefits, do not respond. If you are eligible to receive the benefits, your government check will be mailed to you or will be direct deposited into your bank account. (Note: The IRS has additional tips on how to avoid these types of scams.) Q: What is the FBI doing about these scammers? A: We’re investigating many of these cases right now. We’ve already arrested and filed charges against those who we have evidence to believe are engaging in these crimes. We have teams of FBI employees working these cases every day. I strongly encourage anyone who comes across something ~ LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR ~ Now is an Important Time to Consider Quitting Smoking and Vaping Dear Editor, We all know that smoking is harmful to one’s lungs. As our lives are disrupted by the coronavirus, this fact raises concerns about the damaging impact the coronavirus (COVID-19) may have on those who smoke or vape. Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, says, “Because it attacks the lungs, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 could be an especially serious threat to those who smoke tobacco or marijuana or who vape.” While the long-term impact of vaping is not clear, there is evidence coming out that vaping, like smoking, harms the ability of the lungs to fight infection. Despite the stressful times we’re living in, people who smoke or vape may want to quit to improve their ability to fight the coronavirus. The stress may have led others to relapse and start smoking or vaping again. It’s never too late to try to quit. Everett Aluminum 10 Everett Ave., Everett 617-389-3839 Owned & operated by the Conti family since 1958 • 57 Years! “Same name, phone number & address for family since 1958 • 62 over half a century. We must be doing something right!” •Vinyl Siding •Free Estimates •Carpentry Work •Fully Licensed •Decks •Roof • Fully Insured • Replacement Windows www.everettaluminum.com •Roo ng Now’s the time to schedule those home improvement projects you’ve been dreaming about all winter! People who smoke and vape know how hard it is to quit because nicotine, the drug in tobacco and vaping products, is highly addictive. Repeated tobacco and nicotine use is not a habit, it’s an addiction and quitting can takes several tries before one can quit for good. Many tobacco users say quitting is the hardest thing they’ve ever done; however, with planning, support, and dedication, many people quit for good. Now may be a good time for those who smoke or vape to call the Massachusetts Smokers’ Helpline at 1-800QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669) for free coaching and support 24 hours each day, seven days a week. Enroll online, access quit planning tools, peer support and motivational text messages at KeepTryingMA.org. Up to eight weeks of FREE nicotine replacement help from patches, gum or lozenges are available through the Helpline (with medical eligibility). With coaching and quit medication people can be twice as likely to quit for good compared to those who try to quit on their own. Quitting improves one’s health right away; lungs start to heal, and the body starts to repair its ability to fight infection. For more information, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visit KeepTryingMA.org. Edgar Duran Elmudesi Metro Boston TobaccoFree Community Partnership Health Resources in Action suspicious to report it to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. Q: What can people do to protect themselves from scammers? A: Use extreme caution in online communication. For emails, verify who the sender is – criminals will sometimes change just one letter in an email address to make it look like one you know. Be very wary of attachments or links; hover your mouse over a link before clicking to see where it’s sending you. In general, be suspicious of anyone offering you something that’s “too good to be true” or is a secret investment opportunity or medical advice. Seek out legitimate sources of information. For medical information, those trusted sources are your own doctor, cdc.gov and your local health department. For financial information, that’s ftc. gov or irs.gov. Spring!
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