Medicare fraud scam artists are preying on the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, NBC West Palm Beach (WPTV) reports.
Offering fake tests and vaccines for the novel coronavirus, which don’t exist yet, are typical examples of false claims seen in online marketing ploys aimed at senior citizens, who are most vulnerable to the virus.
Fraudsters are targeting low-income recipients of Medicaid as well, trying to obtain after Medicare numbers and Social Security numbers of those who are most desperate for care.
Last week, Attorney General of the Department of Justice (DOJ) William Barr introduced a directive that encourages whistleblowers to report fraud related to COVID-19 and attorneys to prioritize their cases.
Laws like the False Claims Act protect coronavirus whistleblowers who uncover frauds committed during the response to the pandemic. These whistleblowers can qualify for financial awards under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act.
Read the story from NBC West Palm Beach (WPTV): Feds: Virus frauds spread, preying on Medicare recipients.