Don't Fall for These Alleged COVID-19 Scams
“Scammers are leveraging the COVID-19 pandemic to steal your money, your personal information, or both. Don’t let them,” the FBI said last week.
From fake cures to bogus test kits, con artists are peddling a variety of scams to capitalize on the coronavirus scare.
One man recently told his 2.4 million Instagram followers he had developed a "cure" for the disease.
"This is the cure right here going into mass production," Keith Middlebrook, 53, told his followers as he held up syringe. "This is going to save the world!"
He also showed off pills that claimed to be a preventative, which led him to being arrested for fraud by the FBI.
The FBI has also warned that thousands of Americans are getting bogus robocalls purporting to offer free testing kits that can be delivered overnight.
A Florida retiree said two scammers knocked on his door offering a Coronavirus test for $300.
"It's a scam and I knew it was a scam," he told Inside Edition. "I'm 72, but wasn't born yesterday."
Inside Edition ordered 30 so-called home testing kits from online ads, but they never arrived.
"It's obviously a scam," said North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein. He is one of many officials vowing to shut down anyone selling unapproved test kits. "It is wrong to exploit people's desperation to make a quick buck.
In a notice posted last week, the FBI said fraudsters are also using mass email scams, including fake messages from the Centers for Disease Control and phishing schemes.
“Scammers are leveraging the COVID-19 pandemic to steal your money, your personal information, or both. Don’t let them,” the notice said. “Protect yourself and do your research before clicking on links purporting to provide information on the virus."
RELATED STORIES
Trending on Inside Edition

Paramedics Charged With Murder of Earl Moore, Black Man Killed During Mental Health Episode, Appear in Court
Crime
Idaho Murder Victim Sustained 'Sharp-Force Injuries,' Scene Had 'Substantial Amount of Blood:' Police
Crime
New Mystery Surrounds Sudden Death of California Public Defender on Wedding Anniversary Trip at Mexican Resort
Crime
Murder Suspect Gets Retrial After Letter From Late Wife Warning He Might Hurt Her Is Deemed Inadmissible
Crime
Man Lost at Sea Rescued by Colombian Navy After 24 Days, Lived Off Ketchup, Seasoning, and Soup
Human Interest
Missing Wife of Murder Suspect Brian Walshe Vouched for Husband in Letter to Judge, Helping Him Avoid Prison
Crime