The Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are working together to put a halt to coronavirus-related fraud.
“Unfortunately, there are a lot of people taking advantage of the pandemic,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Michelle Sutphin said. “We are going from about 600 to 4,000 complaints a day through our cybercrime department.”
With such a large influx in online scams, price gouging, and hoarding, something has to be done as innocent people are being taken advantage of.
“What we are trying to do is protect those that are being preyed upon,” Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch said. “Special Agent Sutphin and I are working together to go after those sophisticated scammers and to let them know we mean business.”
According to Sutphin and Fitch, people are selling products such as hand sanitizer, masks, toilet paper, and water for a marked price of 8,000-9,000 percent more than the original market value.
“It is inherently wrong to mark up prices during this crisis,” Fitch said. “My office will not tolerate it.”
If you are suspicious of fraudulent activity such as internet scams, price gouging, or hoarding, please contact the Attorney General’s Office at (601)359-3680 or webpage@ago.ms.gov.
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