Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, businesses have fallen prey to scammers who are exploiting public fears by claiming to have legitimate

information about the coronavirus. Here are a few ways scammers are taking advantage of people during the pandemic:

1. Scammers contact businesses and individuals claiming to represent the Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention, the World Health Organization or other public health offices. The scammers may ask to verify social security

numbers, or tax ID numbers. Additionally, an email from these scammers may be accompanied by a link or attachment that will

infect your network with a virus, leaving you exposed to a potential cyber breach.

2. Someone may call or email you claiming that a government agency is going to provide financial assistance, but only if you make

an up-front payment or provide personal information like a social security number or tax ID number.

3. Websites that mimic the appearance of trusted retailers may pop up in your emails, advertising essential supplies that you may

need (e.g., cleaning supplies, masks). They’ll have you place an “order,” take your credit card information and you’ll never

receive the supplies they claimed to be providing you.

4. Robocall scams are similar to the supply scams mentioned above: Individuals might receive a call pitching test kits or sanitation

supplies. Other robocallers target small businesses, warning them that their website listing on Google has been jeopardized

and customers might not be able to find them during this time. These calls are not coming from Google, and the best response to

these calls is to hang up the phone immediately.

These are just some of the ways fraudsters are attempting to take advantage of people during the pandemic, and it’s important to us that

you stay protected against these scams. To report these scammers, contact Connecticut Attorney General William Tong’s office by calling (860) 808-5318,

or contact the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud hotline by calling (866) 720-5721. Give our office a call today to talk about more

ways scammers may try to take advantage of you, and how we can ensure that you are covered.