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Nassau Officials Warn Of Coronavirus Phone Scams Targeting Elderly

Sabine van Erp
/
Pixabay

Nassau County officials say phone scams are on the rise, with some scammers taking aim at seniors concerned about the coronavirus pandemic. 

County Executive Laura Curran says Nassau has seen a 49% increase in phone scams since January. And now, scammers pretend to be Medicare or other health officials to get sensitive information from senior citizens. 

“Coronavirus scams target your fear. Our message is: don't let them. If you have someone in your family who's a senior or who is vulnerable to this sort of thing, check in with them regularly.” 

Curran says some scammers pretend to be health officials who want seniors to hand over their Medicare number to schedule a coronavirus test. 

Other scammers say they’re with a local bank that’s closing to prevent the spread of the coronavirus – and they ask for bank account information and Social Security numbers. 

Curran says the trend is nationwide. Anyone who thinks they received a scam call should call 911. 

Read the latest on WSHU’s coronavirus coverage here

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Desiree D'Iorio serves as the Long Island Bureau Chief for WSHU.