Someone might call claiming to be a coronavirus contact tracer. Be vigilant, says Cal OES
The latest worry for Californians this year comes in a relatively innocuous form. You might get a call from someone claiming to be a coronavirus contact tracer, notifying you of a potential exposure to the highly-contagious virus — not a great start, admittedly, but it gets worse: then they ask you for money.
The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, known as Cal OES, is warning of scammers preying on the fears of people who are all too willing to help public health officials combat the spread of COVID-19.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic fraudsters are using this opportunity to create fear amongst residents across California,” Cal OES said in a news release. “Many traditional financial crimes and schemes are now orchestrated through electronics. Now, more than ever people of all ages, including the elderly can be victimized by these criminals.”
These fraudsters, according to officials, pose as coronavirus contact tracers, who are tasked with tracking down any potential contacts a person confirmed to have coronavirus may have made while they were infectious. In the guise of a public health official, the scammers often ask for financial or personal identifying information, to be later used to commit fraud or theft.
Cal OES said that a real contact tracer will never ask for money, credit card numbers, banking information, Social Security numbers or immigration status.
If you receive a suspicious email from someone claiming to be a contact tracer, don’t click on any links, says Cal OES. Those might download malware onto your computer or phone.
The best thing to do if you’re unsure of who is reaching out to you is to contact your local health department to confirm the person you’re speaking with is, in fact, a contact tracer.
In all likelihood, a legitimate contact tracer will simply ask about where you may have visited recently and who you may have come in contact with, and possibly direct you to a testing center or ask you to self-isolate.
This story was originally published July 11, 2020 at 2:31 PM with the headline "Someone might call claiming to be a coronavirus contact tracer. Be vigilant, says Cal OES."
