RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Scammers are taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic by posing as contact tracers.
The Better Business Bureau of Eastern North Carolina and the North Carolina Attorney General's Office both issued warning on what you need to watch out for.
Contact tracers play a vital role in stopping the spread of the virus, as contact tracing helps health officials contain COVID-19 by identifying people who may have been exposed to someone with the virus and asking them to stay home. Scammers know that and are now posing as tracers hoping to catch you off guard.
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It can start with a text message claiming you came in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. The text will even include a link to click with more information, but that link may contain malware.
Besides text messages, also watch out for similar messages on social media and robocalls where the caller wants you to reveal very personal information. Alyssa Parker, a representative for the BBB said, "They may ask for your address and date of birth, they're not going to ask for government ID."
The minute they ask for money or any banking information, that's a sure sign it's a scam.
According to Attorney General Josh Stein the statewide manual contact tracing program is known as the COVID-19 Community Team. Here is how his office says the legitimate contact tracing will work:
"According to Stein's office, any information shared during the call is considered private health information and is strictly confidential. If you test positive for COVID-19, a member of the Community Team will make sure you have the resources and support you need while isolating at home, and will also ask about anyone you have been near recently so they can also contact those individuals.
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For more information about the Community Team, click here.
If you believe that you have been the victim of a scam, contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division online or at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM.