The coronavirus pandemic has brought not only dangers into your health, but also, it has given rise to host medical fraud schemes, unjustly enriching to profit into your finances.
As you witnessed and felt the heightened fears of coronavirus pandemic, fraudsters are now taking advantage of your mental and social consciousness by letting you believe in promising fake news and scamming products circulating online.
Recently, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in collaboration with the Department of Justice (DOJ), has warned the public on the massive proliferation of scammers who still look to profit from coronavirus. Some rampant examples of COVID-19 schemes include: telemarketing calls, door-to-door visits of charity scams, economic scams, phishing scams, mobile app scams, investment scams, price gouging, and unemployment fraud.
While you aim to prevent the contamination of the virus, you also look forward to minimizing the costs of fraudulent activities that can affect yourself and your family. That’s why you should know the FBI emerging health care fraud schemes related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Center for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that coronavirus is an influenza virus that causes respiratory tract illness. The virus begins to occur as a common cold and potentially develops as a deadly disease such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
After 2 to 14 days of your outdoor exposure, symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, shortness of breath, cough, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell.
The World Health Organization reveals that there are 3.8 million positive confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 260,000 deaths, across the globe. While in the United States, there are almost 1.2 people who have tested positive for COVID-19, with a mortality rate of 71,000.
Today, the spread of coronavirus has rapidly increased. As young as an infant, victims are now vulnerable to the spread of the disease. While this global pandemic alerts everyone to maintain social distancing and sanitation, the FBI and DOJ are now giving signals to the presence of fraudulent schemes.
What is a Health Care Fraud?
Health care fraud, or also known as Medical Fraud, is a criminal act of obtaining, or taking advantage of, a patient’s health care data and finances, through causing someone else to submit false or misleading information.
The National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association identifies that a small number of dishonest health care providers, or individuals posing as legitimate and authorized health care providers, have committed the majority of health care fraud cases.
Accordingly, fraudsters have become creative in taking advantage of a patient’s health data. They don’t appear as the usual robbers who wear black masks. As prompt as they are, fraudsters are now working in medical facilities, such as physicians, nurses, and medical representatives.
The FBI and its law enforcement agencies have warned the public on the rising cases of fraud schemes related to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of May 6, there are approximately 21,400 fraud complaints, with a financial loss of $26 million, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
FBI agents have reported that criminals are actively manipulating the cure for COVID-19, where fraudsters are selling fake test kits and unapproved drug supplements that are believed to cure the virus.
However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reveals that there are no available medications or any cure for coronavirus. As of today, the FDA and other healthcare organizations have been collaborating to produce a fast and effective vaccine.
Moreover, there are different emerging schemes that you should know to prevent COVID-19 related fraud, including Phishing Scams, In-demand Products and Bogus Cure, and Fake Insurance Coverages.
1. Phishing Scams
Beware of those emails that contain alerts and warnings related to COVID-19, especially when you received an email or a text message requiring you to send your personal information.
At first glance, phishing emails and text messages may look like a legitimate source of information. They manipulate details to appear as a banking institution, a credit card company, online payment website, or even world-renowned health care organizations such as Medicaid, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
The FTC suggests that scammers usually ask your urgent response by clicking some suggested links. As you click those malicious links appearing to be legitimate, scammers will access your data for theft or ransom.
2. In-demand Products and Bogus Cures
Health care fraudsters are now selling unapproved and fake products with claims to be the cure for the coronavirus. They’ll present convincing facts through manipulative personal testimonies from well-known personalities.
Recently, Amazon has banned more than one million COVID-19 related products that claim to prevent and treat coronavirus, removing tens of thousands of overpriced products from unauthorized sellers.
The FDA warns that there is still no cure for COVID-19. Thus, anyone who advertises in-demand medical supplies and tests kits, but never provided the exact quality products, is punishable under the federal laws.
3. Fake Insurance Coverage
Don’t give any of your personal, financial, or insurance information to anyone, unless it is your affiliated insurance company or agency. Now, you can be a potential victim through a random call from a scammer who pretends to be your insurance partner.
Even before the coronavirus pandemic, most scammers are calling from fake telephone numbers and don’t have an existing insurance license. They manipulate you by claiming that your health insurance didn’t cover your stake during COVID-19. Here, they will ask for your personal information from your payment for “additional health insurance coverage.”
The FBI warns that these schemes are marketing fake insurance policies, including “Trumpcare,” or the only telehealth insurance coverage for coronavirus-specific dangers.
How to Protect Yourself and Your Family from Health Care Fraud Schemes Related to COVID-19 Pandemic?
Now that you are socially aware of the emerging health care fraud schemes, follow these effective steps to prevent and protect yourself and your family from COVID-19 related scams:
- Don’t provide any personal, financial, or insurance information to anyone, unless it is your trusted bank or insurance company.
- Avoid spreading fake news. Make sure that you access information to reliable and proper authorities. Always check their websites and top-level domains. For the World Health Organization, it ends with (.int), and for Center For Disease and Control, it ends with (.gov).
- Require two-factor authentication for all of your networks. Always update your passwords in your social media accounts. For any email that requests some sensitive information like your credit card number and number, check the email source and verify it.
- Beware of online products that claim for cure and prevention. Remember, there is still no cure for COVID-19.
- Hire a medical fraud attorney. In case that you are scammed from a health care fraud scheme, ensure a medical fraud attorney who can provide instant legal protection for yourself and your family during COVID-19.
Key Takeaways
Indeed, the coronavirus pandemic has given rise to host medical fraud schemes, unjustly enriching to profit into your finances.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in collaboration with the Department of Justice (DOJ), has warned the public on the massive proliferation of scammers who still look to profit from coronavirus.
While everyone is getting confused about the information and updates due to fake news online, you should always be alert on the emerging health care fraud schemes related to COVID-19 pandemic.
Scammers have never forgiven this global crisis. Still, they will always take advantage to gain profit by someone else to submit, false or misleading information, including:
- Phishing scams
- In-demand products and bogus cures
- Fake insurance coverages
To prevent any health care fraud schemes related to COVID-19 pandemic:
- Keep secure with your personal and financial information;
- Require two-factor authentication of all your networks;
- Avoid spreading fake news online;
- Beware of online products claiming a cure for COVID-19; and
- Ensure legal assistance through hiring a medical fraud attorney.
