According to data as of March 29, 1264 people have already become infected with coronavirus in Russia. Measures have been taken to combat the spread of infection. The President of the Russian Federation spoke about them in his address on the pandemic. Shopping centers are closed, the next week will be inactive, but so far the number of infected people is increasing daily.
People are afraid for their health and the health of their relatives. Scammers shamelessly use this. Yes, at all times there have been such individuals who, even in the most difficult period for the country, think about their own benefit and try to take possession of other people's property or money by deceit. We present to your attention the top 7 schemes of divorce: how scammers profit from the coronavirus.
7. Sale of antiseptics and protective masks
It's no secret that for a long time there are no antiseptics or protective masks on sale. As for the latter, someone is trying to sew them on their own, someone is buying through friends, but most are looking for options on the Internet. And of course they find. We do not claim that everyone who sells such goods is a scam. Even if the transaction takes place, the price will be cosmic. In addition, you can not be completely sure that antiseptics and masks comply with quality standards.
As the saying goes, "these are still flowers." Usually kind sellers are ready to provide the necessary goods, but only in bulk. The buyer pays an impressive amount, and the seller disappears. There are more advanced divorce schemes. For example, not so long ago on Avito a certain girl sold masks in bulk. Cunning scheme: the buyer sent her his personal data, and he did not even have the thought that they were scammers. Now the account is blocked, but some Russian businessmen have lost their money. What can we say about ordinary citizens. A thousand rubles, two or three - because of such an amount, even a criminal case will not be opened, but for some this amount matters.
6. Sale of medicines, miracle devices and tests
At the moment, there is no "magic pill" from COVID-19. Meanwhile, scammers offer them on the Internet or through paper announcements (at stops, at entrances). Daredevils go to apartments and communicate with potential buyers personally. The latter option is very dangerous for single old people, they are easy to fool. In addition, everyone knows that older people very often die from this infection. Fraudsters are represented by employees of a clinic, a management company or other organizations that inspire confidence. They can even show documents, and the victim will not have any suspicions.
As a rule, the prices of medicines, tests and disinfection apparatuses are prohibitively high. Several cases of the sale of “miracle devices” have already been recorded, and buyers were confident that they were incredibly lucky. If you do not want to be deceived, do not panic and do not look for a remedy that will save you from the coronavirus. Only doctors are involved in the treatment, they certainly will not go to apartments and impose their services on the Internet.
5. Disinfection
Also the old scheme, which replaced the "fake" checks of gas equipment or meters. Fraudsters introduce themselves as employees of the epidemiological service and talk about the introduction of mandatory disinfection of apartments. At the end of the "work" they are likely to require payment. Another option: after disinfection, not viruses, but money and other valuables will disappear from the apartment. Similar cases have already occurred in Moscow, St. Petersburg, the Republic of Karelia. In order not to become a victim of “disinfectors”, it is better not to open the doors to strangers.
4. Donations
An unfavorable situation is developing in the country, when everyone is for himself. Most people have bouts of aggression towards the infected, who brought the virus to a particular city. Few people will agree to help their neighbor, but scammers will make it so that even the most heartless person will donate a couple of hundred to treat single old people or to buy gauze dressings for children from the shelter. Yes, they do not stop at nothing. They come up with sentimental stories about the coronavirus that has spread through social institutions. More often than not, people agree to help, all the more not necessarily to donate a large amount. This is the calculation. If everyone gives fraudsters at least a hundred rubles, they can get rich pretty well. Shelters and nursing homes will not raise money this way. For this there is funding from the state.
3. Letters from medical organizations
The most popular way to divorce. Attackers send letters similar to official messages from state and medical organizations. The topic can be any: statistics, rules of conduct. Usually there is a link in the letter, you need to click on it and download the information. You must enter your personal data.
The consequences can be very diverse. The most favorable outcome of events: you will receive more spam in the mail. Or fraudsters will be able to take possession of personal data, steal money from your card or access a page on social networks. You should be more careful and avoid such mailings. If the information interests you, go to the official website of the sender. If any events are really held, they will definitely not be forgotten to mention.
2. Fake tickets
In Russia, all international flights have long been canceled, but not all citizens of the country managed to return from abroad. An unpleasant situation occurred with Ural Airlines. Fraudsters copied the airline’s website and sold tickets for non-existent flights. People want to return home and are willing to pay any amount. It is worth entering information about the card, as soon as all the money that was on it is written off. Of course, you will not receive any ticket. In order not to be deceived, you should be aware of the latest developments. If you doubt anything, call the company hotline.
There is one more scheme. Here the swindlers act at random. They find potential victims and offer them to sell a charter ticket. Such cases were recorded in Moscow. The victims of scammers were citizens of Uzbekistan who were trying to go home.
1. Witchcraft, amulets and charms
The most amazing method of fraud, but, oddly enough, effective. Swindlers sell amulets and amulets from the coronavirus, witches cast spells and conspiracies. Of course, magical protection against COVID-19 a priori cannot be cheap. For example, an astrologer from Chita became famous throughout Russia, promising everyone to determine the risk of contracting coronavirus by date of birth. On Avito you can find a huge number of “unique” things: from charmed garlic to an amulet worth 1.6 million rubles. People are ready to give their money, many of fear have lost the remnants of common sense. No amulets can cure the disease. The magic here is powerless.
In order not to fall into the tenacious clutches of scammers and scammers, you need to follow the events that take place in the country and not communicate with suspicious people, even on the Internet. Do not panic. If you can’t calm down, use the advice of psychologists. Before you do something, think, and then you will not be able to deceive anyone.
