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District Attorney Michael Dougherty Warns of Coronavirus Scams

District Attorney Michael Dougherty advises Boulder County community members to be aware that scammers are exploiting public concern relating to the COVID-19 virus outbreak.
michael dougherty
Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty (Photo from Boulder County DA Facebook)

This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

District Attorney Michael Dougherty advises Boulder County community members to be aware that scammers are exploiting public concern relating to the COVID-19 virus outbreak. These scams include the following: 

• Fake websites selling unproven treatments, prevention measures, and vaccines, or that sell cleaning and disinfecting products at exorbitant prices 

• Calls, text messages, emails and social media posts offering vaccinations, or to entice the public to buy bogus products or virus test kits 

• Information in messages or posts appearing to come from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or other experts, claiming to have new information about the virus 

• Investment schemes claiming that a new product or service can prevent, detect, or cure coronavirus, and that the stock of the company producing it will dramatically increase as a result 

• Phony efforts to collect donations for victims and hard-hit areas around the globe. 

The Community Protection Division of the District Attorney’s Office (CPD) advises community members to be alert to these scams, and offers the following suggestions to help prevent losing money or personal information to them: 

• Ignore offers for medications that promise treatment, cures, or prevention of coronavirus: according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there are currently NO drugs or vaccines approved to treat or prevent the virus. 

• Avoid buying test kits online: the FDA advises that testing for the virus is currently being conducted in verified state and local public laboratories. 

• Shop wisely online at websites of trusted sellers, and compare prices before buying. 

• Visit reliable sources for the most up-to-date information about the virus, such as Boulder County Public Health (www.boco.org/COVID-19) or the CDC (www.cdc.gov). 

BOULDER OFFICE: JUSTICE CENTER · 1777 6TH STREET · BOULDER, COLORADO 80302 · 303.441.3700 · FAX: 303.441.4703 

LONGMONT OFFICE: 1035 KIMBARK · LONGMONT, COLORADO 80501 · 303.441.3700 · FAX: 303.682.6711 

WWW.BOULDERCOUNTYDA.ORG · EMAIL: [email protected] · TDD/V: 303.441.4774 

• Do not click on links in unsolicited emails, or from sources you don’t know: these can lead to fake websites or even steal personal information from your computer. 

• Do your homework before investing or donating: verify that a charitable organization is legitimate by contacting the Colorado Secretary of State’s office or CPD. Research investment opportunities carefully, especially if these promote coronavirus prevention measures, treatments or cures. The District Attorney’s Office remains committed to serving and protecting the community 24/7 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The CPD is active and available to assist: call the CPD at 303- 441-3700 with questions or to report a scam, or send an email to: [email protected].

Download Coronavirus-scams-3-18-20.pdf