Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
COVID Contact Tracing Scammers Ask for Social Security Numbers
TLBBHMAP3-U010ALB5ANM-348f959abae2-512-300x300-1
By Jim Jakobs, Digital Producer
Published 5 years ago on
June 9, 2020

Share

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra warned residents Monday about a new fraud scheme involving phony COVID-19 contact tracers.

In this scheme, scam artists pretend to be contact tracers to trick Californians into divulging private personal information such as Social Security numbers, financial information, or health insurance information. These scam artists are contacting Californians by phone, email, or text.

[covid-19-tracker]

Contact Tracers

Contact tracing is an important tool to slow the spread of coronavirus.

This tool helps local public health departments identify people who may have been in contact with a COVID-19 infected individual. Once informed, people can quickly take proper precautions.

Avoid Falling Victim

To avoid falling victim to this scam, the state Department of Justice offers these tips and precautions:

  • Real contact tracers will only ask you about your medical symptoms and the people you may have been in contact with.
  • Real contact tracers will never ask for your Social Security number, financial or health insurance information.
  • If someone claiming to be a contact tracer asks for any kind of financial information or tries to charge you money, it is a scam. Report it.

DON'T MISS

Pope Francis in Critical Condition After Long Respiratory Crisis

DON'T MISS

Musk Gives All Federal Workers 48 Hours to Explain What They Did Last Week

DON'T MISS

Fresno State Suspends 2 Players, Removes Another Amid Gambling Investigation

DON'T MISS

Israel Delays Release of Palestinian Prisoners, Citing ‘Degrading’ Hostage Handovers

DON'T MISS

Officer Killed After Gunman Took Hostages at Pennsylvania Hospital

DON'T MISS

Kash Patel Plans to Move Up to 1,500 Workers Out of Washington

DON'T MISS

Fired Employees Fear Beloved Yosemite National Park Will Lose Its Luster

DON'T MISS

US and Ukraine Nearing Rare Earths Deal That Would Tighten Relationship

DON'T MISS

Trump Fires Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Two Other Military Officers

DON'T MISS

Less Is More: 5 Ingredient Dinners Are Easier Than You Think

UP NEXT

Voletta Wallace, Notorious B.I.G.’s Mother and Keeper of His Legacy, Dies at 78

UP NEXT

Should Fossil Fuel Companies Be Forced to Pay for Los Angeles Wildfire Losses?

UP NEXT

Bullard Teacher Arrested for Inappropriate Behavior With a Minor, Principal Says

UP NEXT

Nearly 1 in 10 U.S. Adults Identifies as LGBTQ+, Survey Finds

UP NEXT

Fed Audit of CA High-Speed Rail Begins. $4B in Funding at Stake.

UP NEXT

California Lawmakers Scramble Again to Fix ‘Lemon’ Vehicle Law

UP NEXT

California Fire Captain Found Stabbed to Death in Home

UP NEXT

Arctic Blast Causes Massive Pileups, Power Outages Across East Coast

UP NEXT

‘A Step Backwards’: How Federal Threats to DEI Impact CA Schools

UP NEXT

Struggling Forever 21 Plans to Close 200 Stores in Possible 2nd Bankruptcy

Israel Delays Release of Palestinian Prisoners, Citing ‘Degrading’ Hostage Handovers

3 hours ago

Officer Killed After Gunman Took Hostages at Pennsylvania Hospital

3 hours ago

Kash Patel Plans to Move Up to 1,500 Workers Out of Washington

10 hours ago

Fired Employees Fear Beloved Yosemite National Park Will Lose Its Luster

10 hours ago

US and Ukraine Nearing Rare Earths Deal That Would Tighten Relationship

10 hours ago

Trump Fires Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Two Other Military Officers

10 hours ago

Less Is More: 5 Ingredient Dinners Are Easier Than You Think

10 hours ago

Trump-Putin Summit Preparations Are Underway, Russia Says

10 hours ago

Warren Buffett Offers Trump Some Advice While Celebrating Berkshire’s Success

10 hours ago

Hungarians Will Decide Whether Ukraine Can Join the European Union, Orbán Says

10 hours ago

Pope Francis in Critical Condition After Long Respiratory Crisis

ROME — Pope Francis was in critical condition Saturday after he suffered a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis while being treated for pn...

3 hours ago

3 hours ago

Pope Francis in Critical Condition After Long Respiratory Crisis

3 hours ago

Musk Gives All Federal Workers 48 Hours to Explain What They Did Last Week

3 hours ago

Fresno State Suspends 2 Players, Removes Another Amid Gambling Investigation

3 hours ago

Israel Delays Release of Palestinian Prisoners, Citing ‘Degrading’ Hostage Handovers

3 hours ago

Officer Killed After Gunman Took Hostages at Pennsylvania Hospital

10 hours ago

Kash Patel Plans to Move Up to 1,500 Workers Out of Washington

10 hours ago

Fired Employees Fear Beloved Yosemite National Park Will Lose Its Luster

10 hours ago

US and Ukraine Nearing Rare Earths Deal That Would Tighten Relationship

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend