[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The IRS is warning the public that scammers continue to use the Coronavirus pandemic as a cover to for scams to steal money and personal information.
One well-known scam tries to get victims to pay a fee for their stimulus payment, while another tricks people into giving the scammer their social security number, bank account or government benefits debit card account number.
In May, more than 1200 stimulus related websites were registered. Sixty-seven of them were discovered to be malicious and/or suspicious. During one week in April Google saw more than 18 million malware and phishing emails related to COVID-19 scams, in addition to the 240 million daily spam messages it sees related to the pandemic.
Other schemes include fake at home test kits, fake cures, vaccines, pills and advice on unproven treatments. Some websites claim to sell medical supplies the buyer will never see. Another scam includes bogus opportunities to invest early in companies working on a vaccine.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]