Scammers are experts when it comes to changing tactics and messages to confuse you. Scammers are opportunists and deceivers who take advantage of the fear and anxieties associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. We will be examining the various imposter scams using the COVID-19 alert pop-up.

  • Medicare scams
  • Relief payment scam from “government agencies”

Scammers are now contacting people with the guise of offering Medicare benefits or things like COVID-19 test kits and coronavirus packages/palliatives. However, they will request personal information like bank accounts, NIN, or even HMO numbers, to supposedly verify your identity. If you get a call, SMS or even an e-mail from someone claiming to be a representative of Medicare, asking for your personal information, do not engage because it is almost certainly a scam.

Relief payment messages from a “government agency” is also another popular coronavirus scam. We have received reports of scams involving fraudulent calls, texts, and emails coming from people pretending to be from one government agency or the other. These fake government agencies might say that you have been approved to receive a grant, money, prize or relief package due to the pandemic. Scammers can even send phishing alerts falsely claiming that a cheque is ready for pick up.

A very good example is an e-mail or message like this;

“The World Health Organization with its parent organization United Nations Economic and Social Council, considered the effect of the COVID 19 pandemic and its damages to the world economy and decided to help individuals and countries, by providing FREE TESTING KIT. While basking in the euphoria of this accomplishment, we must acquaint you with the guidelines that you must follow in order to complete this claim.

Please kindly provide us with the following information for the verification of the prize/claim and production of your prize/claim/grant certificates.

Full Name……………, Address………………, Age………………, etc.

We will immediately start the process to facilitate your funds/prize release as soon as you send the required details. For security reasons, we advise you to keep your winning information confidential until your prize/claim is processed and released.

Once again congratulations from members and staff of the World Health Organization.”

This kind of scam is now the trend and a threat, so pay attention to the tune of the messages and and ensure to identify the notable characteristics to identify these scams. If you respond to these calls or e-mails, they will probably request money, personal information or both. Remember that you are your own security, be cautious and smart.