CLEVELAND, Ohio -- If an email hits your inbox with an advertisement for a coronavirus vaccine, it might be tempting to click the attachment. Don’t do it, the Federal Trade Commission warns.
And not just because there’s no such thing as a coronavirus vaccine.
As the COVID-19 coronavirus spreads throughout the world and federal officials ask people to prepare, scammers could take advantage of people with worries about the virus or looking for information.
“They’re setting up websites to sell bogus products, and using fake emails, texts, and social media posts as a ruse to take your money and get your personal information,” a FTC website post reads.
These scams aren’t widespread enough to alert Cuyahoga County’s Consumer Affairs division just yet, though officials are monitoring the situation, a county spokeswoman said. County Board of Health professionals haven’t seen scams pop up yet either.
It is widely acknowledged that misinformation is spreading as the virus does, with the World Health Organization launching a public campaign to fight back.
“We need a vaccine against misinformation,” Dr. Mike Ryan, head of WHO’s health emergencies program, said, according to NPR.
The county board of health recommends checking the state health department or CDC’s website for trusted information.
The FTC posted guidelines on online scams. They include:
-- Do not click on links you don’t recognize.
-- Consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or World Health Organization website directly for information. Don’t trust random emails claiming to be from those organizations.
-- Ignore ads for prevention, treatment or cures, and don’t invest in companies based on online information that claims they sell any of these products.
-- If you donate to coronavirus relief or research, make sure the organization or online campaign you’re donating to is legitimate.
More information:
-- Gov. Mike DeWine says Ohioans should have ‘sense of urgency’ over coronavirus outbreak
-- State clarifies no new coronavirus tests of Ohioans for now
-- What survivalists say you’ll need in case of a coronavirus outbreak
-- Coronavirus symptoms often mild, health professionals find. Treatment could mean just waiting it out
--Tourism hot-spot Italy is now struggling to contain coronavirus: What to know about travel
-- One additional Ohioan tested negative for coronavirus, health officials say
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February 29, 2020 at 06:30PM
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How to spot a coronavirus scam, before they’re more common - cleveland.com
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