By: Stephanie Ghazvini, FSA Communications & Youth Services Coordinator
During this time, the FSA wants you and your family to be particularly aware of scams related to COVID-19. Be aware of social media posts, texts, and websites that try to take your personal information or infect your computers with viruses meant to do so. Think twice before investing in companies that way they are working on a coronavirus cure and check sources such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Also be aware of fake fundraising or online marketing products claiming to cure the novel coronavirus or a vaccination for it.
Other scams, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office says, target COVID-19 tax refunds and stimulus checks. An emailed link urges you to “access your funds now,” and would take you to a fake government website to enter your financial information. Other emails look like they may be from the World Health Organization or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As always, be cautious with unfamiliar links or emails, or calls and texts from unfamiliar numbers. Remember that no bank or government official will call to ask you for your personal information. Any requests like that should put you on your guard.
If you are contacted by anyone and suspect a scam, call the non-emergency number of your sheriff’s office to report it.
Find more FSA Crime Tipss at www.flsheriffs.org or on the first Saturday of every month on the FSA Facebook page using #CrimeTipSaturday.