U.S. Attorney Erica H. MacDonald of the District of Minnesota today urged the public to report suspected fraud schemes related to COVID-19 by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline (1-866-720-5721) or to the NCDF e-mail address disaster@leo.gov.
In a press release, Attorney General William Barr directed U.S. Attorneys to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of Coronavirus fraud schemes. The NCDF Hotline can receive and enter complaints into a centralized system that can be accessed by all U.S. Attorneys, as well as Justice Department litigating and law enforcement components to identify, investigate and prosecute fraud schemes.
U.S. Attorney MacDonald emphasized that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota remains on-duty and committed to meeting the critical mission of protecting individuals, families and communities throughout the State of Minnesota. She also thanked federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners for standing firm in their shared mission to protect the public.
MacDonald warned that there are wrongdoers who are actively seeking to profit from this crisis by exploiting the fears and vulnerabilities of individuals. She designated the Chief of the Economic Crimes section to serve as the COVID-19 Fraud Coordinator for the District of Minnesota, with the primary duties of receiving all incoming reports of COVID-19 related fraud scams and oversight of any resulting prosecutions.
Some examples of these schemes include individuals and businesses selling fake cures for COVID-19 online and engaging in other forms of fraud, phishing emails from entities posing as the World Health Organization or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, malicious websites and apps that appear to share Coronavirus-related information to gain and lock access to your devices until payment is received, seeking donations fraudulently for illegitimate or non-existent charitable organizations, and medical providers obtaining patient information for COVID-19 testing and then using that information to fraudulently bill for other tests and procedures.
The NCDF can receive and enter complaints into a centralized system that can be accessed by all U.S. Attorneys, as well as Justice Department litigating and law enforcement components to identify, investigate and prosecute fraud schemes. The NCDF coordinates complaints with 16 additional federal law enforcement agencies, as well as state Attorneys General and local authorities.
U.S. Attorney MacDonald urges the public to report any suspicious activity to the National Center for Disaster Fraud hotline at 1-866-720-5721 or via email at disaster@leo.gov. The public is also encouraged to report any information that may lead to the identification, investigation and prosecution of COVID-19 fraud schemes.
Related Federal Cases
- Seng Xiong, Elder Fraud Scheme, Minnesota 2024 · New Mexico
- Julius Lee Boston, Tax Return Fraud, Minnesota 2012 · Minnesota
- Jeremy J. Fishnick, Wire Fraud, Cedar Rapids IA, 2023 · Washington
- Abel Hernandez-Labra, Passport Fraud, Hampton IA, 2023 · Illinois
- Aaron A. Johnson, Conspiracy to Commit Fraud on Federal Crop Insura… · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Minnesota
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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