Scams Are Polluting the Air

When our science-backed professionals conduct indoor air quality tests, they are testing for VOCs, formaldehyde and other potentially harmful particles that could be contaminating the air. Right now, though, it could be scams that are polluting the air.

The Federal Communications Commission has issued warnings about a number of Covid-19 text message scams you should be on the lookout for, including:

• If you receive a text promoting a cure for Covid-19, do NOT click on the links in the message. Scammers are trying to lure you in with the false promise of a cure that does not exist.
• Some scammers are sending out text messages with an offer for Covid-19 testing. Again, do NOT click on any links in the message. If you are interested in being tested for the novel coronavirus or for antibodies, check with your doctor or your local public health agency.
• The FCC reports that some people have received texts claiming to be from the “FCC Financial Care Center,” which are offering $30,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. You should be aware that there is no FCC program that provides relief funds to consumers. These texts are what are often referred to as phishing scams, which are intended to get you to give up personal information like your bank or credit account numbers.
• The Better Business Bureau is warning of another text message scam impersonating a government agency. This time, it’s the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. If you receive a text claiming to be from the Department of Health and Human Services that says you have to take a “mandatory online COVID-19 test,” do NOT click on the link provided in the text.
• And that’s still not all when it comes to scams claiming to come from an official government source. If you receive a text that begins with “IRS COVID-19 News” beware! Do NOT click on the link, which the text says will help you “register/update your information in order to receive the economic impact payment regardless of your status.” These scammers really put some effort in – they even created a website intended to look like an official IRS site. And it’s ‘s all designed to get your personal, including your date of birth and social security number as well as a debit or credit card number.

Fortunately, you don’t need the kind of high-tech equipment we use when we are conducting an air quality assessment in West Palm Beach, a mold inspection in Miami or a water quality test in Boca Raton to screen for the kind of text message scams that are stinking up the environment during these difficult times. Just use your common sense and a healthy dose of caution.