The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI participated in a statewide telephone town hall hosted by AARP. The topic was protecting Alaskans from COVID-19 fraud. Together, the two offices shared resources and fielded questions regarding the prevention of Alaskans from falling victim to scams and other schemes attempting to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bryan Schroder, U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska, says law enforcement expected predatory criminal behavior: “Something like the COVID-19 pandemic is readily made for these types of criminals. They like to prey on the emotions of their victims. Fear, like fear of an invisible disease, is a powerful emotion. However, those of us who enforce these types of laws, we’re aware of the virus and all of the unknowns surrounding its spread. We knew that would be used by criminals to separate victims from their money, and were ready.”
He added advice to help Alaskans prevent themselves from becoming victims: “First, and this is true of any fraud scheme: if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. If you see on the news that there currently is no cure for this coronavirus, but yet someone calls you or sends you an e-mail that wants to sell you a cure, it’s probably a fraud. Second: if you believe someone is trying to defraud you, say something! Give these investigators and prosecutors an opportunity to protect not only you, but to protect your neighbors.”
AARP Alaska is dedicated to enhancing quality of life for all Alaskans as they age. The group aims to lead positive social change and deliver value to members through information, advocacy, and service. AARP is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization with 87,000 members in Alaska.
