Gephardt: Liars & Cheaters Using Coronavirus To Get Rich

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – It has been inspiring to see how the coronavirus pandemic has brought out the best in so many people.

Unfortunately, it is bringing out the worst in others.

Crooks are using the international pandemic to try and rip people off and, as the KSL Investigators found, Utah is right in the thick of it.

One particularly alarming complaint was lodged with the Utah Division of Consumer Protection, said division director Daniel O’Bannon.

“We received a report of somebody who had received an email from a scammer and the scammer said, ‘If you don’t pay up now, I’m going to expose all these secrets about your life and infect your family with coronavirus,’” O’Bannon said.

That’s right — crooks are threatening biological warfare to try and intimidate people into sending cash.

O’Bannon said virtually all these scams come from overseas, so people don’t need to be worried about the threats.

“For most of us, we would recognize that that is ridiculous,” he said. “We also know that at a time when emotions are high, maybe some people may not recognize that these threats are false.”

There are other scams also taking hold.

The Utah Country Sheriff’s Office reports a scammer is soliciting donations to help with coronavirus relief.

“Don’t fall for it,” said UCSO Sergeant Spencer Cannon.

The Utah Better Business Bureau put out a warning to be especially wary of unsolicited offers for products or services related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Scams and other questionable, unethical, or plainly illegal business practices are proliferating around the U.S. right now,” said BBB Utah spokeswoman Jane Rupp.

According to a spokesperson for Visa, they have also seen “emerging fraud schemes related to the pandemic.” Folks are being duped into donating to crooks thinking they are supporting charitable causes.

Non-delivery scams are also en vogue, Visa says. Criminals are advertising that they have in-demand products for sale, like toilet paper or medical supplies. You pay – they disappear with your money.

Federal agencies have also reported a spike in complaints about scams.

O’Bannon said if you see a suspected scam related to this or any emergency – let Utah regulators know about it.

“We want to hear about any scam related to the coronavirus, or, for that matter, earthquake response – any scam related to emergencies,” he said.

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Coronavirus Resources

• Have you or a family member been affected by coronavirus issues in Utah? KSL TV wants to hear from you. Contact KSL by emailing social@ksl.com.
• What is COVID-19? Here’s What You Need To Know To Stay Healthy
• What We Know And Don’t Know About The Coronavirus
• Four Common Coronavirus Questions Answered
• The latest coronavirus stories from KSL TV can be found at our Staying Safe: Coronavirus section.
• Your Life Your Health: How can parents prepare their home, children against coronavirus?

How Do I Prevent It?

The CDC has some simple recommendations, most of which are the same for preventing other respiratory illnesses or the flu:

• Avoid close contact with people who may be sick
• Avoid touching your face
• Stay home when you are sick
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

The CDC does not recommend wearing a face mask respirator to protect yourself from coronavirus unless a healthcare professional recommends it.

How To Get Help

If you’re worried you may have COVID-19, you can contact the Utah Coronavirus Information Line at 1-800-456-7707 to speak to trained healthcare professionals. You can also use telehealth services through your healthcare providers.

Additional Resources

If you see evidence of PRICE GOUGING, the Utah Attorney General’s Office wants you to report it. Common items in question include toilet paper, water, hand sanitizer, certain household cleaners, and even cold medicine and baby formula. Authorities are asking anyone who sees price gouging to report it to the Utah Division of Consumer Protection at 801-530-6601 or 800-721-7233. The division can also be reached by email at consumerprotection@utah.gov.