Coronavirus Scams: How They Persist with the Virus

It shouldn’t have been a surprise that coronavirus scams were a significant problem throughout all of 2020. Do you think it’s over now that the pandemic has eased up a little? Not so fast. Con artists will never give up on an opportunity. As if the pandemic itself wasn’t enough trouble, con artists added to the misery of thousands of people worldwide with a variety of scams. The Covid-19 breakout was historic, and the types of scams that it brought out were historic, too. They were on a level in volume and sophistication that was unprecedented. This article includes a recap of the scams that were going on at the heart of the Covid-19 scare. A look back at the coronavirus scams is important, for a few reasons: Maybe the best reason to read this article is to realize that, like the virus itself, coronavirus scams are evolving into new strains. In a May 2021 post on their website, the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reminded citizens to keep their eyes open. The title of their article was, “Let’s Talk About Coronavirus scams.” The FTC has advice about scams, and they remind us to keep our eyes open to fraud. They also encourage everyone to pass along what they learned to friends and family. That’s the same goal we have here at WhatIsMyIPAddress.com and EasyPrey.com. In 2021 scammers are still looking for fraudulent schemes to keep milking Covid-19. The FTC had news for everyone to keep us on our toes. Those who are potential targets fall into the following groups: In other words, just about everyone. The sad truth is, we are all targets for scammers, perhaps some more than others. You, your spouse, your boyfriend or girlfriend, your parents or neighbors…everyone. You need to be especially aware of the following types of virus-related scams. These are indeed strange times, so it’s important to know scammers are at work every day of the year. They don’t stop; instead they ramp up their attacks during crises. For that reason alone, it’s important to know about coronavirus scams, as well as all the other kinds of scams that are always out there. One way to stay informed about scams is to follow the new Easy Prey podcast , hosted by Chris Parker, the CEO and founder of WhatIsMyIPAddress. You can find it on iTunes , Google Play , Spotify or other podcast apps. Listen in, share it with others, and stay safe.