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Report COVID-19 Fraud

COVID

U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton of the Northern District of Texas is urging the public to report suspected fraud schemes related to COVID-19 (the novel coronavirus) by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline at 1-866-720-5721 or submitting tips online at justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm. The U.S. Department of Justice is committed to disrupting fraudsters intent on capitalizing on the pandemic. 

Some examples of potential COVID-19 schemes include:

  • Anyone selling fake testing kits, treatments, or cures for COVID-19
  • Websites seeking donations for illegitimate or nonexistent COVID-19 charities
  • Fraudulent phone calls from individuals posing as health insurers seeking personal information
  • Phishing emails from entities posing as the CDC or WHO, which may contain malware
  • Robocalls offering medical supplies with no intent to deliver
  • Scams claiming to provide economic impact payments (colloquially known as stimulus funds) if consumers input their bank information
  • Fraudulent medical billing for procedures related to COVID-19
  • Threats to public officials advocating quarantines
  • Hoarding or price-gouging of necessary supplies
  • Threats to intentionally infect individuals with COVID-19
  •  

To date, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas has taken action against a number of clinics promoting sham treatments, including: 

  • Court Prohibits Dallas Wellness Center from Touting ‘Ozone Therapy’ as COVID-19 Treatment (press release here)
     
  • U.S. Attorney’s Office Files Enforcement Action Against Chiropractor Promoting Fake COVID-19 Treatment (press release here)

The office has also prosecuted defendants who defrauded pandemic-era financial programs like the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP): 

  • Waxahachie Woman Charged in $1.2 Million Paycheck Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program Fraud (press release here)
  • Coppell Man Sentenced to 11 Years in $24 Million COVID-19 Relief Fraud Scheme (press release here)

  • Owner of Cryptocurrency Company Charged with COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program Fraud (press release here)

 

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

 

Updated March 17, 2023