AG Shapiro says people coming forward best way to combat COVID-19 scammers

PITTSBURGH — Victims coming forward is vital when it comes to combating coronavirus scammers. That’s the message from Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro.

“Don’t be embarrassed. Let us know, we’re here to help you,” Shapiro said during a conference call Monday.

Scammers are capitalizing on the sudden changes since coronavirus turned our world upside down.

“A lot of those older Pennsylvanians are even more lonely and even more isolated, and so scammers are trying to take advantage of that,” Shapiro said.

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Shapiro said his office has seen many scams involving stimulus checks.

“There's a lot of money being sent by the federal government and in some cases state governments so you've got to be careful,” he said.

The IRS will never call and demand personal information over the phone or send an unsolicited email. If you haven’t gotten your stimulus check yet, you can check the status of your payment on the IRS website.

“There is no miracle drug no matter what anyone says,” Shapiro said. “By alerting my office, you’re actually helping not just yourself but others who might fall victim to a scam.”

You can email scams@attorneygeneral.gov or call 800-441-2555 to submit a complaint.

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