Don’t give your Social Security number to a contact tracer. New scam plays on COVID-19

Scam artists are using the coronavirus outbreak to swindle Californians into giving up personal information, according to the California Department of Justice.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra on Monday issued a consumer alert warning that scammers may attempt to contact you while posing as COVID-19 contact tracers.

These scammers ask for personal information, such as your Social Security number or financial information.

Actual contact tracers help local health departments track the spread of COVID-19, including tracking down people who may have come into contact with the coronavirus and without being aware of doing so.

They ask for medical symptoms and anyone who you may have come into contact with. They will not ask for personal financial information or your Social Security number.

There have been more than 128,000 cases of COVID-19 in California, including more than 4,600 deaths, according to the California Department of Public Health.

“It sickens the soul that there are people out there who make it their business to scam you as most of us seek to band together to respond to the coronavirus pandemic,” Becerra said in a statement. “I ask all Californians to be alert and protect your personal information. And if you see something, say something. We are working to track these imposters.”

The Attorney General’s Office is asking that anyone who has been the target of a contact tracer scam file a complaint at ‪www.oag.ca.gov/report.

This story was originally published June 8, 2020 at 3:38 PM.