Beware Of These 5 Olympics-Related Scams, PA State Police Say

It's an exciting time for sports, with the 2018 Winter Olympics underway in Pyeongchang. But as you cheer on Team USA, local police are reminding you to beware of some scams that have been reported.

Yes, that's right. Scammers have sunk so low that they are now attempting to use this celebration of remarkable athleticism to try and snatch some of your hard-earned cash.

Don't let them.

The Pennsylvania State Police recently released a Community Awareness Bulletin briefing the public on the matter, and it provides some details on what to look out for so you can avoid becoming the next victim.

The following scams have been reported, according to the PA State Police:

Car decoration: Victims report receiving an email appearing to be from the United States Olympic Committee that offers to pay $350 a week if they display Olympic-related decorations on their car. Victims who respond are sent a check that is for more than $350, and they are instructed to deposit it in their account and wire transfer the excess funds. The checks, however, are counterfeit and are eventually rejected by your bank, but the wire transfer likely was already processed.

Gold medal malware: Scammers send emails with images and videos of Olympic events, but when the victim clicks on an attachment, it downloads malware to their computer. That malware or ransomware is used to steal important information from your computer or device.

2018 Olympic Online Lottery Promotion: This scam involves an email saying the recipient has won cash and a trip to South Korea through the "Olympic Lottery" (no such thing). Often the emails are made to look like they're from an official Olympic sponsor, like McDonald's or Coca-Cola. The email will instruct the recipient to pay taxes on the prize by wiring funds. Sadly, the victim never gets a prize from the fake Olympic Lottery, and they're out their hard-earned money.

Malware apps: The official Pyeongchang 2018 app is legitimate, but malware has been reported in other Olympic-related apps.

Counterfeit Olympic merchandise: Many websites are selling counterfeit Olympic merchandise. You can buy authentic merchandise at the Team USA website.

Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images