The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warned government agencies and health care organizations of ongoing BEC schemes exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as an overall increase in cryptocurrency and health care fraud scam activity targeting consumers.
Govt and health care industry buyers were alerted of multiple incidents where fraudsters scammed state government agencies trying to buy personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical equipment from both domestic and foreign entities.
"In one case, an individual claimed to represent an entity with which the purchasing agency had an existing business relationship," the FBI said.
"By the time the purchasing agencies became suspicious of the transactions, much of the funds had been transferred outside the reach of U.S. law enforcement and were unrecoverable."
Scammers also tricked govt agencies to pay for goods or services without actually receiving what they paid for as part of advance fee fraud schemes.
Are you a government or health care industry buyer? Beware fraudsters perpetrating advance fee and BEC schemes that target buyers of personal protective equipment (PPE), medical equipment, and other supplies during the #COVID19 pandemic. Learn more at https://t.co/PzaZBqBFAl.
— FBI (@FBI) April 13, 2020
According to another FBI warning, crooks are also taking advantage of the pandemic to victimize consumers of all ages in cryptocurrency-related fraud schemes such as blackma ..
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