COLDWATER, MI. – (WTVB) – The Branch County Sheriff’s Office and the Branch-St. Joseph Area Agency on Aging are urging residents to be aware of scams related to the coronavirus.
Attorney General Dana Nessel and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services warned Michigan citizens about the scams this week.
Nessel says these scams include websites selling fake products, as well as fabricated emails, texts and social media posts used to steal money and personal information.
She says that the emails and posts may be promoting awareness and prevention tips along with phony information about cases in residents’ neighborhoods. Other emails may also ask for donations to victims, provide advice on unproven treatments or contain damaging attachments.
As a result, the Federal Trade Commission is offering the following tips to help avoid getting scammed:
• Don’t click on links from sources you don’t know
• Watch for emails claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or experts saying they have information about the virus
• Ignore online offers for vaccinations; and
• Be alert to “investment opportunities.”
Nessel maintains that anyone attempting to solicit funds or personal information through a phone call or email should be treated as a potential thief, regardless of who they claim to be.
Consumers can file consumer complaints online with the Michigan Department of Attorney General or call 877-765-8388. The news of these scams comes after a fake case of coronavirus was reported and discredited in Calhoun County.
