Criminals use disasters and other emergencies to prey-on and victimize the vulnerable in our community. This includes residents who may be frightened and looking for medical testing equipment, or the unemployed looking for work.  We are living through very difficult times right now where emotional, or illogical decisions may lead to victimization. The FBI reports that Government Impersonators are one of the most prevalent schemes being investigated during this crisis. Reports of door-to-door solicitation for money, to test for COVID-19, has been reported in the US. It's important to know that the government will not reach out to the general public this way. If someone reaches out to you and says they're from the government and they're attempting to help you with virus related issues, it's likely a scam according to the FBI. The FBI also reports serious concerns over fraudulent COVID-19 cures circulating on the internet and fraudulent medical equipment associated with the virus. You should never accept a medical treatment or virus test from anyone other than your personal doctor, your pharmacist, or the local health department. Criminals are preying on the unemployed during this crisis by contacting them either by phone, or the internet and asking that they urgently pay them in return for an employment opportunity. Legitimate employers will never ask you to pay them. The FBI reports that the government will not ask you for personal information to give you any of your financial benefit information. If you received an email, text message, or phone call claiming to help you get your benefits, do not respond. If you're eligible to receive such benefits, your government check will be mailed to you, or will be direct deposited into your personal bank account. The IRS has additional tips on their website. The FBI is asking anyone victimized by these scammers to report it to them at tips.fbi.gov, or to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. 

The FBI asks everyone to use extreme caution in online communication.  For emails, verify who the sender is...as criminals will sometimes change just one letter in an email address to make it look like one you know. They're asking the public to be very wary of attachments or links; hovering your mouse over a link before clicking to see where it's sending you is a very important. In general, be suspicious of anyone offering you something that's "too good to be true" or offering you a secret investment opportunity, or medical advice. You should seek out only legitimate sources of information. For medical information, those trusted sources are your OWN doctor, www.cdc.gov and the Chester County Health Department www.chesco.org/224/Health.For financial information, www.ftc.gov ir www.irs.gov. Be safe and stay healthy. 

REFUSE TO BE A VICTIM !!