Our thoughts and prayers are with all affected in some manner by the COVID-19 virus. As we mentioned after Hurricane Harvey, it is a sad fact of life there are people who take advantage of others’ misfortune for their own gain, especially in emergency situations. After any catastrophe, con artists appear in the guise of charitable groups collecting funds to aid the disaster victims, often by unsolicited texts, emails and social media posts. Phishing ploys are prevalent. The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning against coronavirus schemes where criminals disguise themselves as WHO representatives to steal money from innocent victims. In addition, the FBI has recently posted an alert specific to fraudulent COVID-19 schemes.

Do not let these swindles discourage you from contributing to the many legitimate charities providing care and relief to those in need. Be generous, but be wise. Investigate before you donate.