Question of the day
Tuesday, Mar 10, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Press release…
Attorney General Kwame Raoul today urged Illinois residents to be on alert for possible email and social media scams tied to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Raoul’s office is cautioning Illinois residents about products that are marketed as cures or total preventatives to COVID-19. According to Raoul’s office, individuals should be cautious of any advice or claims being made that certain products can “cure” COVID-19 or prevent the contraction of COVID-19. Products such as chlorine dioxide, hydroxycholroquine, essential oils, silver, elderberry and garlic are being advertised as “cures” for COVID-19. Raoul urges Illinoisans to not purchase any product promoted online on social media or via email that is being touted as a cure to COVID-19.
Raoul also is urging people to be wary of emails claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or other entities claiming to have information about COVID-19, or offering treatments or cures. According to the CDC, there is no vaccine to protect against COVID-19 and no medications approved to treat it. Attorney General Raoul encourages Illinoisans to delete emails promoting treatments or cures and report the correspondence to the Attorney General’s office.
“According to the CDC, there is currently no known treatment for COVID-19. People should be aware that any email or website offering a ‘cure’ is a scam that should be avoided,” Raoul said. “I encourage Illinois residents to delete any email offer, and do not pay for any alleged COVID-19 ‘cure’ or ‘treatment.’ People should instead follow the guidance of expert agencies such as the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the World Health Organization, and report COVID-19 scams to the Attorney General’s office.” […]
Attorney General Raoul is also encouraging people to exercise caution when donating to charitable causes connected to the COVID-19 outbreak.
* The Question: Have you seen any of these scams online or had to talk a friend or family member out of falling for them? If so, tell us about it.
- A Guy - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 2:21 pm:
Have not.
Hard to believe with the amount of coverage on every outlet, that the bamboozle could be successful. Severe penalties should befall anyone taking advantage of this.
- don the legend - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 2:25 pm:
I have not.
A Guy. I think it’s because of the mass exposure it makes it easier. People are scared and scared people make emotional decisions, not well reasoned ones. With respect.
- DuPage Saint - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 2:32 pm:
I have not but I sure as heck am getting tons of ads for face masks and I don’t think they are really a preventative
- Tom Willis - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 2:33 pm:
I saw Televangelist Jim Bakker’s Silver Sol pitch. The FDA, FTC and two attorney generals want Bakker stopped.
- Publius - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 2:37 pm:
Trump declared there is a cure.
- drudge - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 2:39 pm:
i worry that baby boomers that still trust the government are about to learn a very sad and hard lesson. that’s the biggest scam i’ve seen.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 2:41 pm:
“It will go away, just stay calm. Be calm. It’s really working out. And a lot of good things are going to happen.”
— President Trump, quoted by CNN, on the coronavirus pandemic.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 3:20 pm:
=== i worry that baby boomers that still trust the government are about to learn a very sad and hard lesson. that’s the biggest scam i’ve seen.===
Care to embellish? What is the government doing concerning COVID-19 that is a scam?
- Last Bull Moose - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 3:29 pm:
I have been getting many calls from unknown numbers. Not answering them. Anybody important will leave a voicemail.
- The Bashful Raconteur - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 3:45 pm:
What?? I’ve been rubbing aloe on my tonsils for no good reason?!
- JoanP - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 4:20 pm:
I haven’t seen any of these. Of course, they may be sent directly to my spam filter.
- R A T - Tuesday, Mar 10, 20 @ 4:20 pm:
I received a request for money to help fight the democrats and their “Coronavirus Impeachment Scam”
I do not think it will be in my short remaining lifetime that I will recognize the GOP again.