Warning: Beware of Scams Related to Covid-19

With all the information being shared about Covid-19, residents are alerted to possible scams and how to identify them.

No Door-to-Door Visits from the CDC

The NJ Department of Health has received reports of individuals going door to door and identifying themselves as personnel from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, the CDC is NOT deploying personnel to residences to conduct surveys or for any other reason. If residents are contacted/approached by such individuals, they are urged to (1) not allow entry or provide any information, and (2) call 9-1-1.

False Information and Online Scams

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has provided these additional warnings about scammers taking advantage of the Coronavirus outbreak:

• Emails: Don’t click on links from unknown sources and be wary of emails claiming to be from the CDC or other “experts.” Visit the websites of the CDC (cdc.gov) and World Health Organization (who.int) for official information about COVID-19. 
• “Cures”: There is no cure or vaccination for COVID-19 at this point. Ignore any such claim or offer to purchase or invest in a cure/vaccination.* 
• Donations: Be careful when donating money to any organization or through a crowdfunding site; make sure the request is legitimate and do not make donations in cash or gift cards or by wiring money.

Read the FTC’s full alert here. More information is available at ftc.gov/coronavirus.

* The FTC and FDA have identified seven sellers of unapproved and misbranded products that claim to treat or prevent the virus. View them here.