Don’t let fake contact tracers steal your information. Here’s how to protect yourself

Beware of fake contract tracers trying to steal your money and personal information, attorneys general across the country have warned.

Contact tracers will cold call residents potentially exposed to the coronavirus with a scripted list of questions and provide assistance if needed.

The method has been proven to help contain the spread of infectious diseases, CNBC reported.

But not everyone who says they’re a contact tracer is legitimate.

Real contact tracers may ask you how you’re feeling, where you went and who you’ve been in contact with in recent weeks, or ask for contact information for people you’ve been in contact with in that span, your current work status and contact information, according to Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul.

An official contract tracer “will not disclose the identity of the person who tested positive” that led to their call, according to the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

You will never be asked for your Social Security number or financial information from a legitimate contact tracer, warns California Attorney General Xavier Becerra.

“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 stated.

Scammers may text or email residents asking them to click on a link, which could grant them access to your computer and personal information if clicked, the Hawaii DCCA said.

Legitimate contact tracers should already know your birth date and should only ask you to verify that information, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said.

They should also be able to provide current testing locations and any information you need about making an appointment, Kaul stated.

The Federal Trade Commission warned last month about scammers texting people pretending they are contact tracers. It warned people not to click any links texted by so-called contact tracers.

Contact your local attorney general to report contact tracing scams.

This story was originally published June 24, 2020 at 7:58 AM with the headline "Don’t let fake contact tracers steal your information. Here’s how to protect yourself."