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Scam tip: free face masks—not really

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free face masks scam tip
Illustration depicting a red and white road sign with a scam free concept. White background.

Free face masks?

If your first reaction is, what do I have to do to get one? Think again. This is a scam in which a bad actor offers free face masks in exchange for your Medicare or Social Security number. Obviously, you know not to give out your Social Security number. Right? Please tell me you do. But a Medicare number? Why would anyone want that? It turns out, for a lot of reasons.

Medicare fraud is big business

In 2017 alone, it’s estimated that the amount of Medicare fraud was more than $50 billion. If your Medicare card falls into the wrong hands, it can be used in these scams and you might find yourself an unwitting accomplice.

Tip #1: Protect your Medicare Number and only give out the number to medical service providers you know.

Free face masks for your Medicare Number

After any disaster or national emergency, scammers look for new lures to use in their schemes. Face masks are one of those current hot items. Scammers are cashing in on the need for face masks by posing as Medicare representatives or medical service providers and offering free masks.

Tip #2: Medicare won’t call you unless you call them first.

Masks for sale!

We’ve heard plenty over the past few months about N-95 face masks. While these single-use masks are the best available, according to the CDC, these masks should be reserved for medical personnel. That hasn’t stopped the market from offering them for sale, though. The scammers, of course, know this and are selling their own version of N-95 masks on places like Facebook, Instagram, and news sites. Unfortunately, the masks they send—if they send one at all—are cheaply made paper.

Tip #3: Save your money! Make your own mask with household materials.

Tip #4: Spend wisely. If you do buy a mask, don’t buy from an ad on social media, especially Facebook (a haven for misinformation). Instead, buy from a reputable reseller.

Tip #5: Protect your money. For any purchases you make online, be sure to use a credit card. This allows you to dispute a charge if something goes wrong.

Check out last month’s contact tracing scam tip.

Scam Tip: COVID-19 Contact Tracing Scams

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Graphic courtesy CDC.gov.

It was only a matter of time before scammers realized yet another opportunity provided by COVID-19—contact tracing scams. I’m a strong believer in contact tracing as a way to help slow the spread of COVID-19, but I also know scammers will use any trick they can to steal your information. Here are a few tips to help you safely maneuver through these very stressful times.

What is contact tracing?

Contract tracing is used to identify people who have come in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Contact tracing can be done manually or via an app that runs on a cellphone. Once someone has been identified as having come in contact with an infected person, they are instructed to quarantine and monitor their symptoms daily.

Is it safe to cooperate?

Contact tracing does not involve collecting personal information such as social security numbers, birthdates, or immigration status. A legitimate contract tracer also will not be asking for financial information or any kind of payment. What this means is that the legitimate contact tracer won’t jeopardize your personal information or financial security.

Graphic courtesy City of Carlsbad.

Tips to avoid the scams

Tip #1: Like any other scam, this one happens via email, text message, and/or telephone. An email or text message scam will include a link, which will either download malware or take you to a fake website that will ask for personal information. Do not click that link.

Tip #2: Gone are the days when phone scams were dying out due to their cost. Now, scammers run phone banks, spoof telephone numbers, and train their operators. This makes dealing with a phone version of this scam much more difficult. However, there’s a clear dividing line. If someone asks for your social security number or other sensitive information, even if they say it’s voluntary, assume it’s a scam and hang up.

Tip #3: If you’re feeling stressed or pressured, find someone you can talk to for support. Let’s face it, people under a lot of stress do stupid things. We make bad choices.

If you need to talk to someone, you can get help at 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746. Learn more about stress and coping during the COVID-19 outbreak at CDC.gov.