Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
As If COVID Pandemic Isn't Hard Enough, Scammers Make Things Worse
The Washington Post: As Hope Fades For A Second Stimulus Payment This Year, Scammers Target People Still Waiting For Financial Relief
Yes, the IRS is still trying to distribute pandemic relief money to millions of Americans. But, no, that text about a second stimulus payment is not real. As if the federal stimulus effort in response to the covid-19 pandemic weren’t tumultuous enough, scammers are trying to steal people’s money or financial information by sending fraudulent text messages. (Singletary, 11/10)
MYNorthWest: Nationwide Phone Scam Sends Texts About Fake COVID-19 Stimulus Payment
Keep an eye on your incoming text messages for a COVID-19-related phone scam. This latest scam involves con artists posing as the IRS and trying to trick people into thinking they’re getting another COVID-19 stimulus payment so that they’ll hand over their bank account information. (Jennings, 11/5)
Lexington Herald Leader: Scam Targets Phones With Bogus COVID-19 Research Texts: BBB
Beware of bogus messages about clinical trials during the coronavirus pandemic, officials warn. The fake messages sent through text, email or social media claim recipients may be eligible to help researchers study COVID-19, the Better Business Bureau said last week in a news release. (Jasper, 11/9)
AARP: Coronavirus Scams - Beware Fake Claims, Phony Websites
Coronavirus scams are spreading nearly as fast as the virus itself. As of Nov. 9, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) had logged aboiut 246,500 consumer complaints related to COVID-19 and stimulus payments, two-thirds of them involving fraud or identity theft. Victims have reported losing $180.7 million, with a median loss of $320. Fraudsters are using the full suite of scam tools — phishing emails and texts, bogus social media posts, robocalls, impostor schemes and more — and closely following the headlines, adapting their messages and tactics as new medical and economic issues arise. (Waggoner and Markowitz, 11/10)
The Washington Post: Tourists Are Buying Fake Covid-19 Test Results On The Black Market To Travel
With global coronavirus cases rising, many countries are now requiring negative coronavirus test results for entry, but getting a test in time can be difficult for travelers. So it may have been only a matter of time before a black-market option emerged: counterfeit test results. The practice of forging or purchasing fake results has surfaced in destinations around the world, with instances of manipulated negatives in Brazil, France and the United Kingdom. (McMahon, 11/10)
TechRepublic: Dark Web: Underground Forums Remain A Hotbed Of COVID-19 Scams
Fake COVID-19 cures, counterfeit travel documents and scam call services are amongst the services being traded on the dark web, as cyber criminals continue to look for ways of exploiting the 2020 health crisis. Cybercrime has been a persistent issue throughout 2020 as uncertainties around the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent shift to remote working have opened up new ways for crooks to cash in on the situation. (Hughes, 11/10)
And Ohio is warning physicians about an extortion scam involving medical licenses —
LegalReader: State Medical Board Warns Physicians Of Online Coronavirus Scammers
The State Medical Board of Ohio is warning physicians about an extortion scam involving the suspension of medical licenses. The scam is not exclusive to clinicians practicing in the state and several others have issued similar warnings. According to the Ohio Medical Board’s press release, “scammers who claim to be from the U.S. Department of Justice call or fax prescribers, telling them they are being investigated for drug trafficking and their license has been suspended.” In order to resolve the issue, they are telling call recipients they can paid fines over the phone. (Teller, 11/10)
