The Better Business Bureau is warning people in Kansas and across the country to watch out for coronavirus-related scams, and law enforcement agencies have already reported fraud attempts made through email or social media.
Denise Groene, the Kansas director of the BBB, said you may get an email claiming that you have been in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. The email will have a link, and if you click on that, you could open up your computer to malware or viruses. The email may also ask for personal financial information.
Groene says a legitimate contact tracer from a public health agency will contact you by phone and identify themselves and the agency they work for. She said they will ask about your identity but they won’t ask for sensitive information, such as a social security number, banking information, or other financial information. You may have to confirm your name, address and date of birth, but generally the health agency will already have this information. Also, a contract tracer will never identify the identity of the person who tested positive.
The BBB said you can double check the URL address of the agency sending the email or do a separate internet search for the website mentioned in the email.
Barton County officials have reported a scam on social media where residents are told they were exposed to someone who tested positive, and they say there is a fee to get tested for the virus. County officials say there is no fee for testing.
KFDI will present an interview with Denise Groene about coronavirus-related scams on the public affairs program, At Issue, Sunday, July 26th at 8 a.m.
