WASHINGTON  –  The Federal Communications Commission is reporting numerous new scam calls about the coronavirus to families out there, with seniors in particular falling victim. One Southern California lawmaker, Newport Beach Democrat Harley Rouda, rallied together dozens of colleagues, of both parties, to fight against the emerging COVID-19 scams. 

There are upwards of 50 billion robocalls a year. Now Rouda said these calls are trying to take advantage of this dire situation saying some of the calls are offering testing kits, treatments, and vaccines. 

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Treatments and vaccines have not been created yet and testing is by a doctor’s referral and appointment only, for now. 

Other scams circulating include warnings to national quarantine orders, messages purporting to be from the World Health Organization or charities asking for money. It could even be a caller pretending to be the government asking for information to confirm if the stimulus checks have arrived into your bank account, or mailbox. 

No government official will be calling you for any personal and secure information over the phone about the coronavirus. 

Rouda said millions of Americans, particularly senior citizens, are being targeted with these fraudulent coronavirus scams. 

He’s sent in a bipartisan letter to the FCC and DOJ urging them to use enhanced authority and direction to take the steps needed to address the robocalls, and safeguard Americans. 

“We are seeing it first hand in our district and across the United States. The legislation that we are proposing is bipartisan because everyone has seen this,” Rouda said. “It’s not just robocalls, its emails, and phone calls as well. So, we recognize there’s increased opportunity for fraud in the current environment along with the money that is being provided by the federal government for relief and stimulus.”

The letter stems from an act Rouda helped spearhead last year called the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrent Act, or TRACED Act which went into effect this month. 

The TRACED Act seeks to end robocalls by implementing penalties up to $10,000 for fraudulent callers and also requires carriers to verify caller identities. Rouda added the provision to fight one-ring scams which prompt people to call back a scammer. 

“We just have to be vigilant,” Rouda said. “That we have the legislation in place to hold those accountable who try to fraudulently represent themselves or product or services at the expense of vulnerable Americans.”

 

 Rouda said this is a moment where bad actors feed on the confusion and fear coming from the coronavirus, usually people with preexisting health conditions. 

Rouda’s office said they haven’t heard back from the FCC or DOJ yet, but they’re anticipating full cooperation as they hope to hear how these departments are combating the scam calls these days.