March 19, 2020
BATH, NY – The Steuben County spokesperson Mary Perham says that some Steuben County senior citizens have been victims of Covid-19 email scams. According to Mary Perham, the scam artists are pretending to be from the CDC and they trick seniors, into buying products or wiring money. See full statement below:
There has been a substantial increase in scams related to COVID-19 involving seniors in the area, according to Steuben County Office For The Aging Director Patricia Baroody . “We want to warn our seniors and the public to watch out,” Baroody said. “This is critical — these scammers focus on spyware and malware and products that claim they can cure this virus. Baroody said scammers also are attempting to steal the direct financial support that individuals will be receiving as part of the federal aid package. Baroody urged seniors and their loved ones to observe the following tips, provided by the state Office For The Aging: · Don’t click on links from sources you don’t know. They could download viruses onto your computer or device. · Watch for emails claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or experts saying they have information about the virus. · For the most up-to-date information about the Coronavirus, visit the CDC website https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html and the World Health Organization. · Ignore online offers for vaccinations. There currently are no vaccines, pills, potions, lotions, lozenges or other prescription or over-the-counter products available to treat or cure COVID-19 — online or in stores. · Be careful when it comes to donations, whether through charities or crowd-funding sites. Don’t let anyone rush you into donations in cash, gift card, or by wiring money. Baroody said the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have jointly issued warning letters to seven sellers of unapproved and misbranded products, erroneously claiming they can treat or prevent the Coronavirus. According to FTC, the companies have provided no evidence to back their claims, as required by law. The FDA reports there are no approved vaccines, drugs or other products available to treat or prevent the virus. “We urge all our seniors and their caregivers to use extreme caution,” Baroody said. “You will receive the most up-to-date information on the best care possible as soon as possible from our county Emergency Services and Public Health officials. Don’t fall for what these criminals are trying to do.”
