2 new coronavirus scams are targeting SLO County residents, DA’s Office says
The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office on Friday warned of two new scams exploiting the coronavirus pandemic and targeting county residents.
The agency is cautioning residents who may experience the scammers to report them to the District Attorney’s Office, as well as any cases of commercial price-gouging.
“During the current COVID-19 pandemic, scammers will try to take advantage of the community through misinformation and scare tactics.,” according to a news release from the District Attorney’s Office. “Scammers may create fake websites, emails, texts, or posts on social media impersonating a relief agency to profit illegally.”
Though the solicitors may appear to be legitimate, they often include misspellings or business logos that appear to have been copied, the release said.
According to the release, scammers may try to reach consumers by phone, email, postal mail, text or social media, and residents are advised to never release personal information, such as bank account or Social Security numbers.
The two new scams involved pleas from these fake organizations for residents to purchase gift cards to be used either for posting bail at the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office or to pay for food offered through the county’s free food and prescription delivery program for seniors and self-isolating residents, the District Attorney’s Office said.
“The county will never call you to request payment for fees in the form of gift cards,” the release said.
In addition, the District Attorney’s Office says that businesses and other providers of services or goods that include food, emergency supplies, medical supplies, building materials, gasoline, transportation, freight, and storage services, hotel accommodations and rental housing are prohibited from price gouging.
Price gouging consists of an increase in pricing of more than 10% higher than the amount that existed before February 4, 2020. The law states that retailers may only charge more than a 10% increase if their costs have increased, the agency says.
The District Attorney’s Office said it has a specially trained civil prosecutor and investigator team assigned to handle all civil consumer and environmental protection cases.
Anyone who witnesses or is a target of price gouging or a scam is encouraged to contact the District Attorney’s Office at 805-781-5800 or SLOConsumerComplaint@co.slo.ca.us.
This story was originally published April 10, 2020 at 4:13 PM.
