By Brian Moran and Bob Ferguson / For The Herald
During this global pandemic, we are all experiencing anxiety over the disruption to the economy, and concern for our health and the health of our loved ones. Our offices are working together to keep our community safe from those seeking to profit from this anxiety. On this we are united: We will work together to stop those who seek to profit with scams, schemes and swindles related to COVID-19.
On the federal level, we are seeing scammers attempt to impersonate legitimate government agencies to try to get personal information, such as Social Security numbers and bank account information, that can then be used for fraud. We see bad actors offering alleged cures and vaccines online, when none has yet been approved. And we see phishing scams where bad actors send unsolicited documents or emails with links containing malware to infect computer systems. These scams are being actively investigated in the Western District of Washington and, where appropriate, we will file criminal charges and pursue federal criminal convictions.
At the state level, the Attorney General’s Office has already taken steps to counteract price gouging by sending official warning letters to 17 local business that were charging excessive prices for COVID-19 related supplies such as N95 masks and hand sanitizer. Investigators at the Attorney General’s Office have made more than 190 on-site visits to businesses to investigate price-gouging complaints. Recently the Attorney General launched the “See It, Snap It, Send It” campaign encouraging members of the public to use their phones to document suspected cases of price gouging. As state residents reach out to us with reports, we are investigating and taking formal action. We are also coordinating with our partners at the Federal Trade Commission.
As with the price-gouging reporting, the public has an important role to play in putting scammers out of business, particularly in the next few weeks as stimulus checks from the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act) are mailed or deposited in bank accounts. Be alert to fraudulent checks that may ask you to pay a “fee” to the sender; the government will never ask for a fee. And don’t provide your bank account information or Social Security information to anyone over the phone; again, the government will not ask for that information. The IRS already has your direct deposit information if you used direct deposit for your tax refund for your 2018 or 2019 tax returns, or will direct you how to provide that information at www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment.
If you suspect fraud, report it to the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or disaster@leo.gov. Here in Washington, the Attorney General’s Office has a very active Consumer Protection Division; you can file a complaint with them here: www.atg.wa.gov/file-complaint or reach out by phone at 800-551-4636.
Whichever way you choose to report fraud-related concerns, know that we are working together, share a common goal and mission to protect those we are privileged to serve, and are working with state and federal law enforcement officers to investigate those who try to victimize others during this pandemic.
Washington state has been a leader in responding to this virus, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Washington State Attorney General’s Office are working together leading in the fight to stop fraud from further victimizing our citizens.
Brian Moran is U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington. Bob Ferguson is attorney general for Washington state.
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