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Press Release

U.S. Attorney Urges The Public To Report Suspected COVID-19 Fraud

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida

 

                              Justin M. Keen Appointed as Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – U.S. Attorney Lawrence Keefe of the Northern District of Florida urges the public to report suspected fraud schemes related to COVID-19 (the Coronavirus) by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline (1-866-720-5721) or to the NCDF e-mail address disaster@leo.gov.

In coordination with the Department of Justice, Attorney General William Barr has directed U.S. Attorneys to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of Coronavirus fraud schemes.

"The global and domestic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on families and businesses is unprecedented, and during these worrisome times, criminals are attempting to enrich themselves through fraudulent schemes," said Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. "The U.S. Attorney’s Office is open for business and will aggressively stop anyone trying to profit from the fear and confusion caused by this worldwide pandemic."

Some examples of these schemes include:

• Individuals and businesses selling fake cures for COVID-19 online and engaging in other forms of fraud.

• Phishing emails from entities posing as the World Health Organization or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• Malicious websites and apps that appear to share Coronavirus-related information to gain and lock access to your devices until payment is received.

• Seeking donations fraudulently for illegitimate or non-existent charitable organizations.

• Medical providers obtaining patient information for COVID-19 testing and then using that information to fraudulently bill for other tests and procedures.

In a memorandum to U.S. Attorneys issued March 19, Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen also directed each U.S. Attorney to appoint a Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator to serve as the legal counsel for the federal judicial district on matters relating to the Coronavirus, direct the prosecution of Coronavirus-related crimes, and to conduct outreach and awareness activities. The Northern District of Florida Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator is Justin M. Keen.

The NCDF can receive and enter complaints into a centralized system that can be accessed by all U.S. Attorneys, as well as Justice Department litigating and law enforcement components to identify, investigate and prosecute fraud schemes. The NCDF coordinates complaints with 16 additional federal law enforcement agencies, as well as state Attorneys General and local authorities.

To find more about Department of Justice resources and information, please visit www.justice.gov/coronaviruss.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Contact

U.S. Attorney's Office
Northern District of Florida
(850) 216-3845

Updated March 23, 2020

Topic
Coronavirus