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The COVID-19 pandemic has unleashed a new category of scams targeting vulnerable people for financial gain, but there are simple rules to beating scam artists.

Scam artists are a menace during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here are tips to protect yourself from rip-offs from the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy:

• Be on the lookout for fake vaccine offers, cures, testing, air filters, and Medicare COVID-19 kit scams. There are no cures or vaccines for COVID-19.

Hang up on, or better yet, don’t answer robocalls. Scammers use them to pitch fake products, work-from-home schemes and insurance scams. Try to avoid answering the call at all – if it is someone you know or a legitimate call, they will leave you a voicemail.

• Avoid foreclosure rescue and “we buy homes” scams. Scammers search public records for homeowners in danger of property tax, mortgage, and HOA foreclosure. Never sign paperwork on the spot.

Scammers often try to trick homeowners into giving away their ownership by signing a deed or other legal documents without disclosing the real nature of the transaction.

• Avoid companies or out-of-state lawyers that offer to help with debt relief offers. Under North Carolina law, it’s illegal to collect upfront fees for debt settlement services. Often these companies do nothing but put you further in debt and damage your credit.

• Don’t pay in advance for help accessing benefits. The government will not ask you to pay anything up front to get the stimulus money.

• Avoid Social Security scams. Legitimate government representatives will not call to ask for your Social Security number, bank account, or credit card number. Don’t give your number for verification or be scared into thinking your benefits will be suspended.

• Watch out for phishing emails and texts about the coronavirus that appear to be from health officials, experts, or anyone else. Don’t open messages, click on links, or download attachments from senders you don’t recognize.

• Be cautious of offers to help get groceries, do errands –there are a number of good Samaritans, but unfortunately there have also been reports of scams, money given, nothing delivered.

• Beware of “person in need” and grandparent scams. Scammers pose as a grandchild, friend or relative stranded or otherwise in trouble and need money quickly and quietly. They may ask for money by mail or gift card.

Keep your cool, hang up and call another relative or friend if you are still concerned to help you investigate.

Be careful before you donate to a COVID-related charity. Do your homework by contacting the North Carolina Secretary of State, Charity Watch, or Charity Navigator.

• Be wary of unsolicited door-to-door sales pitches or offers. Don’t sign or agree to anything on the spot. If an offer seems too good to be true. it probably is.

• It is illegal to charge excessive prices during an emergency. A price may be unreasonable if it exceeds the average price for the product or service during the previous 60 days.

If you suspect a scam, contact the Attorney General’s Office 1-877-5-NO-SCAM or go online at ncdoj.gov.

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