Marin County Residents Warned Of Coronavirus Scammers

MARIN COUNTY, CA —Marin County's Financial Abuse Specialist Team (FAST) reminded people to remain vigilant against scammers and learn more about cybersecurity practices during the coronavirus pandemic.

The pandemic has changed and limited the way individuals connect with family, friends and service providers. Vulnerable and isolated adults may be contacted and offered fake testing kits or COVID-19 treatments in order for scammers to gain access to personal and financial information, according to FAST.

The FAST team is a coalition of specialists from the Public Guardian, Adult Protective Services, the Ombudsman's Office — all sectors of the county's Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) — along with partners from the District Attorney's Office, the Marin County Sheriff's Office and other area law enforcement agencies, Legal Aid of Marin, and volunteers from the community.

"Scams related to the pandemic are proliferating," said Mark Vanderscoff, the county's public guardian.

"We need our older residents to make sure they do not provide personal information, and especially money, to strangers who contact them via phone, email or texting. The scammers are experts in the game of preying on the vulnerable, earning someone's trust in a fraudulent way, and then taking advantage of them. Now more than ever, it is important for all of us to be aware and mention this to anyway who might show a tendency to let their guard down and fall victim."

The FAST team includes experts in real estate, law, financial planning, taxation, accounting, investments and annuities who know how to spot scams. They aim to educate, prevent and fight against the financial abuse of older and vulnerable adults.

Vanderscoff, whose public guardian office manages the property, finances and personal care needs of those adjudicated by the court as substantially unable to provide for themselves, estimated that only about one in five of financial abuse crimes are ever discovered or reported.

"Unfortunately, the victims can be overwhelmed by embarrassment and shame, and they decide not to tell anybody about it," he said. "It's especially unfortunate when stolen funds are needed for basics like housing, food and medical care."

According to FAST, the best way to avoid the stigma is through education and communication.

The FAST team urged seniors to speak up with families and trusted friends about any requests they experience for personal information. Adults who have older parents who are new to using technology should pay attention to unusual banking transactions, notices of insufficient funds, uncharacteristic attempts to wire large sums, and the closing of accounts without regard to penalties.

Read cybersecurity best practices at StaySafeOnline.org, a site offered by the National Cybersecurity Alliance.

Report abuse to Adult Protective Services at 415-473-2774. Contact The District Attorney's Consumer Protection Unit at 415-473-6495.