Greetings everyone from the Larimer County Colorado Sheriff’s Office! I hope this finds you each well and healthy and sane under these uncertain times. One thing is certain – the evil scammers, always ready, willing and able to take advantage of any situation, are out in full force! No stay at home restrictions for them – they are wandering our airways, emails, telephone lines and texts to take from us. We need to be especially alert and vigilant because of the pandemic and the recovery checks that are expected. So, I want to share what I know about the official process for this so you can effectively shut down these scammers.
CORONA VIRUS SCAMS:
Method – email, phone, robocall, text
Messages:
“early sign up for vaccine – click link and fill in info”
“order miracle cure for COVID-19”
“order this to keep the virus from infecting you”
“order your PPE’s here”
“COVID-19 company updates – how we are responding to the virus – see attachment”
Outcome – Attachments can contain malware to –
steal your log-in credentials
get your IP address
steal your financial info
Orders for miracle cures, prevention are bogus. Only check with the CDC for up-to-date and valid information on the status of therapies for patients and status of vaccines down the road.
COVID-19 RELIEF (STIMULUS) PACKAGE SCAMS
Methods – Text, email, robocalls, messaging platforms
Messages:
“Enter your info to apply for COVID-19 Relieve”
“Urgent – to receive your payment for relief – tap this link”
“Fill in the following personal information so we (spoofing US Treasury) can send you your relief check”
Text stating – “your $500 to help you past the outbreak has been pre-accepted, claim yours by clicking xxxxxx. ”
Outcome:
Scammers are requesting your personal identifying information containing your bank account number, email addresses, passwords, etc. They can spoof emails from official government agencies such as US Treasury, IRS, WHO, etc. to request your personal info. NEVER click on links you receive. NEVER give your personal info to anyone via text, email, phone, etc. Our government is aware of potential scammers so are setting up processes to avoid possible scams. The government already has your information so will NOT be requesting it from you.
The official process for the relief/stimulus checks can be found on the links below. In summary, The IRS will use your 2018 or 2019 taxes to calculate how much you will receive. If you use direct deposit when you file your taxes, the IRS will use that to direct deposit your relief check automatically.
If you receive social security as your only income and are not required to file income taxes, the IRS will use your method of delivery of your social security to automatically send you the relief check. If you do not use direct deposit, the US Treasury is going to set up a website portal for you to provide your direct deposit info to speed up your check. This is expected to be ready in the next few weeks. Please follow the links below for updated info on this.
If you do not have a direct deposit listed, the US Treasury will automatically issue a check to you through the US Postal Service. This will take longer so if you can sign up when the portal is ready – do so.
You will NOT receive any text messages, robocalls, emails, and requests for information from the US Treasury or the IRS. If you do receive something – it is a SCAM!!!!
Please check these official websites for updated and accurate information.
https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-scams-consumer-alerts
https://home.treasury.gov/cares
It is very sad that in these times we have to deal with such evil people. However, we can thwart them by being alert and vigilant so we stop them in their tracks.
We can, however, celebrate all the good things that are happening as we are more united, we are seeing the best of people come out in acts of giving and kindness, businesses of all kinds are stepping up to help us all. Let’s celebrate all our first responders (law enforcement, medical personnel, fire and emergency responders), businesses that are taking care of their employees even with the shut down, neighbors shopping for their high risk neighbors, grocery store heroes, truckers, delivery workers, and everyone that is trying to reach out to each other! The good far outweighs the bad so let’s shutdown these evil scammers and celebrate all the good we are seeing!
Please stay home, healthy, sane, happy and scam free!
Til next time,
Barbara Bennett
Sheriff’s Auxiliary/Crime Prevention Unit Coordinator
Threat Liaison Officer (TLO)