State Representative Amy Grant is alerting Illinoisans to a new online scam involving people trying to pass themselves off as COVID-19 contact tracers.
According to Rep. Grant, scammers are reaching out over social media and telling people they have been in contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19. People are then asked to click on a link for more information.
“These scammers are taking advantage of people in the middle of a health pandemic,” said Rep. Grant. “People who receive a social media message of this nature should not click on the link.”
The Illinois State Police sent an alert about the scam and called it “a gateway for thieves to find their way into your world.”
Individuals with questions about the Coronavirus are encouraged to contact the Illinois Department of Public Health or local county health departments. Those who believe they may have been a victim of this particular scam should report the information to the Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker and file a complaint with the FTC and a local police department.