Protect Yourself From Coronavirus Scams and Identity Theft

The call seems legitimate. Your caller ID says it’s from the Health Department. You’ve been exposed to COVID-19, the caller or text message begins.

But is it a real contact tracer or a scammer trying to steal your identity?

Caller identification can be spoofed and the coronavirus is giving con artists an almost perfect scam pretense.

“Fraudsters try to get you to react emotionally and a highly contagious virus with no vaccine is an almost perfect way to get people scared and throw off your logical thinking,” said AARP State Director Keali`i Lopez. “That’s why AARP Hawai`i is holding a Telephone Town Hall and Facebook Live identity theft event with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Secret Service and the state Office of Consumer Protection -- to prevent scams by teaching people how to protect themselves and their loved ones.”

Law enforcement experts will give tips and answer questions on how to protect yourself from the latest cornonavirus and identity theft scams at 9 a.m. on July 16. To participate in the Telephone Town Hall, go to vekeo.com/aarphawaii to register and you’ll get a phone call when the event begins inviting you to join the call. You can also listen to a simulcast on the AARP Hawai’i Facebook page.

As for telling the difference between a real contact tracer and a scammer, here’s what you should know:

If you want to be sure the call is legitimate, call the Disease Outbreak Control Division of the Hawai`i Department of Health at 586-4586 to confirm that the call is legitimate. The number and information on contact tracing is also available at the Disease Outbreak Control Division’s Facebook page and website.

Legitimate contact tracers will ask for your name, birthdate and address. But they will never ask for your Social Security number, medical insurance account information, or bank or credit card numbers.

Beware of text messages and emails about COVID-19. Do not click on any links.

If you feel your identity has been compromised by a scam, consider freezing your credit so that scammers cannot use your personal information to open credit cards in your name without you being notified.

Suspected fraud can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-ID-THEFT or call the FBI at 202-324-3000. A complete list of federal agencies that investigate fraud is available at https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/report-fraud. You can also call the AARP Fraud Watch Network helpline at 877-908-3360 and speak to a trained volunteer and sign up for weekly Watchdog Alerts or go online to aarp.org/Fraud.

Contact tracing scams have been reported on the mainland and it’s only a matter of time before similar scams pop up in Hawai`i, Lopez said.

“Unfortunately, scammers have no conscience,” she said. “They have no qualms about hijacking efforts to contain COVID-19 and save lives to steal.”