User:Cheezejack/sandbox/COVID-19 scams
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COVID-19 fraud, also known as coronavirus fraud, is a type of telecommunications fraud and scam that use anything related to the COVID-19 virus (usually related to coronavirus vaccines) to intimidate the victim and usually benefit from it. The scam typically targets citizens of the United States, but scams have been reported in other countries such as Canada.[1] The FTC has reported over 175,000 COVID-19 related reports about fraud, identity theft, and other consumer protection problems.[2]
Operation[edit]
Initiation[edit]
Most of the coronavirus fraud that occurs begins with an email, text message, or a robocall.
Persuasion[edit]
Payment[edit]
Reports[edit]
From January 1, 2020 until April 15, 2020 there were supposedly 18,235 reports of COVID-19 fraud in the United States according to the FTC.[3]
Losses[edit]
According to the FTC, from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to April 30, 2020 there were US$13.44M lost in total due to coronavirus fraud.[4]
See also[edit]
- SSA impersonation scam
- IRS impersonation scam
- Technical support scam
- Scambaiting
- Confidence trick
- COVID-19
References[edit]
- ^ Government of Canada - COVID-19: Frauds and Scams. Government of Canada. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
- ^ FTC - COVID-19 report data "on the daily". Federal Trade Commission. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
- ^ FTC - COVID-19 scam reports, by the numbers. Federal Trade Commission. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
- ^ USA Today - 10 COVID-19 scams spreading right now that people are falling for. USA Today. Retrieved January 15, 2021.