MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Morgantown Police Department is warning citizens to watch for COVID-19 fraud attempts.
The FBI has reported an increase of online fraud schemes related to COVID-19. These fraudulent messages typically fall under one of these
categories:
- Fake CDC emails claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) or other organizations claiming to offer information on the virus - Phishing emails asking you to verify personal information in order to receive an
economic stimulus check from the government, or other entities like fake cures and
vaccines or testing kits - Messages claiming to treatment or equipment such as a COVID-19 vaccination,
gloves, respirators, or face masks.
Morgantown Police Department officials recommend following these tips to protect yourself
from all forms of email scams:
- Do not click on links within an email unless you are certain of the sender’s identity;
- Do not open attachments within an email unless you are certain of the sender’s identity;
- Do not provide personal information such as your social security number, date of birth, or
financial data in an email or over a phone call; and - Always verify the web address by manually typing them into your browser.
If you believe you are a victim of an internet scam or cybercrime or you would like to report
suspicious activity, please visit the FCC website, or contact the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint
Center.