Watch Out For These Scams Circulating During The Outbreak: FBI

LOS ANGELES, CA — Scammers are using the COVID-19 pandemic to steal money and turn unknowing victims into money mules, sometimes through fake, work- from-home job postings, the FBI warned Monday.

"When criminals obtain money illegally, they have to find a way to move and hide the illicit funds," according to an FBI statement. "They scam other people, known as money mules, into moving this illicit money for them either through funds transfers, physical movement of cash or through various other methods."

The agency advised people to be wary of online job postings that promise money for little effort.

It also warned about red flags, including an "employer" communicating through web-based services like Gmail, Yahoo or Hotmail; asking potential victims to send or receive money to their personal bank account and then transfer funds via wire transfer, mail or money service businesses; asking potential victims to open a new bank account in their name for the business; and telling potential victims to keep part of the transferred money.

People were also warned to be on the lookout for emails, private messages and phone calls from people who live abroad and claim to be in need of financial support.

According to the FBI, common examples include people claiming to be U.S. service members stationed overseas, U.S. citizens working abroad and U.S. citizens quarantined abroad, then saying they need money for themselves or a loved one who has COVID-19. Other common examples are people claiming to work in the medical equipment field and need someone to send or receive money on their behalf, or people saying they're affiliated with a charity.

Anyone who believes they have been contacted by a fraudster was encouraged to contact their local FBI field office at: https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices, or to report suspicious activity, they can visit the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at: https://www.ic3.gov.

City News Service