Crime

Fraud Against Elderly Has Increased Amid Covid-19 Pandemic, Legal Services of the Virgin Islands Warns

As the number of people and communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic grows, so do the scams associated with it, said the Legal Services of the Virgin Islands in a release issued Thursday. Scammers use public health emergencies as opportunities for new fraud schemes, and because older adults are at greater risk for serious illness from COVID-19, they may target older populations, L.S.V.I. said. “There is currently no FDA-approved vaccine for COVID-19 and although there may be treatments for symptoms, there is no ‘cure.’ However, scammers often use fear-based tactics to convince people that a vaccine or cure is now being offered,” said Aimeé Griles, Project Director of the V.I. Senior Medicare Patrol (VI-SMP). Speaking to the elderly population, L.S.V.I. said, "It’s also important to remember that although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Virgin Islands Department of Health and other public health officials may contact you if they believe you may have been...