San Francisco, CA – U.S. Attorney David L. Anderson of the Northern District of California is urging the public to report suspected COVID-19 fraud schemes by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline at 1-866-720-5721 or emailing disaster@leo.gov. 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.
In coordination with Attorney General William Barr, U.S. Attorneys have been directed to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of Coronavirus fraud schemes. "Unfortunately there are fraudsters out there who will try to use this public health emergency to scam the public and profit on the pandemic," said U.S. Attorney Anderson. "As communities throughout Northern California take steps to limit the spread of COVID-19, we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to guard against fraud and bring swift justice to those who try to ply their scams in our district."
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 coordinates complaints with 16 additional federal law enforcement agencies, as well as state Attorneys General and local authorities. 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.
In a memorandum to U.S. Attorneys issued March 19, Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen also directed each U.S. Attorney to appoint a Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator to serve as the legal counsel for the federal judicial district on matters relating to the Coronavirus, direct the prosecution of Coronavirus-related crimes, and to conduct outreach and awareness activities. The Northern District of California has appointed an Assistant U.S. Attorney to be a Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator who can be reached at 415-436-7200.
To find more about resources and information regarding COVID-19 fraud, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
The public is urged to report any suspected COVID-19 fraud schemes to the NCDF hotline or email address. The NCDF is working closely with law enforcement partners to identify, investigate and prosecute fraud schemes related to COVID-19.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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