Federal Prosecutors Team Up with AARP to Provide Californians with Information on COVID-19 Scams

NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – April 17, 2020

SAN DIEGO – Prosecutors from the four United States Attorney’s Office in California, along with representatives from the FBI, will be participating in a telephonic town hall being coordinated by the AARP to provide information to California residents to help them identify and avoid fraudulent schemes related to Coronavirus and COVID-19.

The telephonic town hall will happen on Monday, April 20 from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. PDT. During the event, a special agent from the FBI and a federal prosecutor will make presentations, and participants from across California will be allowed to ask questions of a panel of Assistant United States Attorneys from the four offices that serve California.

The AARP Fraud Watch Network is providing the infrastructure for the event. Approximately 100,000 AARP members will receive a phone call Monday morning inviting them to participate in the town hall. Those who wish to receive an invitation can sign up on this AARP registration page: https://vekeo.com/aarpcalifornia/#.

During the current health crisis, federal investigators and prosecutors continue to fulfill their critical mission of protecting public safety. Federal officials have prioritized the disruption, investigation and prosecution of crimes related to Coronavirus and COVID-19, including fraudulent schemes, unapproved treatments, and scams related to stimulus money. During the town hall, federal officials will discuss the types of schemes currently being seen, along with tips on how to avoid becoming a victim.

“This innovative outreach event will deliver valuable information designed to protect potentially vulnerable seniors from scams, cyber-attacks and fake cures,” said Robert Brewer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California. “Community members will also learn how to report suspected fraud, which is critically important.  We need to partner with educated consumers to identify and investigate despicable felons seeking to profit from the current health emergency by preying on the public.”

U.S. Attorney Brewer commended Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Huie, Deputy Chief of the Major Frauds Section, for his participation in the AARP town hall and prosecution of significant COVID-19 scams. 

Soon after the event, the recording will be available at https://vekeo.com/aarpcalifornia/#.

The FBI continues to warn the public about health care fraud schemes:  https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/fbi-warns-of-emerging-health-care-fraud-schemes-related-to-covid-19-pandemic and other COVID-19 related crimes at: https://www.fbi.gov/coronavirus.

If you think you are a victim of COVID-19 fraud, immediately report it the FBI (visit ic3.gov, tips.fbi.gov, or call 1-800-CALL-FBI or the San Diego FBI at 858-320-1800.

In addition, the public is urged to report suspected fraud schemes related to COVID-19 by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline (1-866-720-5721) or by e-mailing the NCDF at disaster@leo.gov.