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Sickly Scammers: The Other Dangers Of Coronavirus

Nextdoor, the hyper local social network, is seen on a smartphone screen in Washington, DC.
Nextdoor, the hyper local social network, is seen on a smartphone screen in Washington, DC.

American authorities are reporting a rise in scams and fraud that take advantage of public unrest and fear over the novel coronavirus.

These activities have included false information about stimulus refunds, price-gouging medical supplies, charity fraud, investment fraud about fake vaccines and more.

Federal, state and local authorities are working to combat the spread of such illegal schemes. The Justice Department has created a task force to deal with price-gouging efforts specifically. How can Americans protect themselves from scams and fraud? And what should be done if someone suspects a friend or family member has been tricked?

Copyright 2020 WAMU 88.5

Kathryn Fink
Kathryn Fink is a producer with NPR's All Things Considered.