GREATER SPRINGFIELD – While many people are giving of themselves to help their communities during the COVID-19 outbreak, “it doesn’t bring out the best in everybody,” Taryn Lee-Turgeon, protective services director at Greater Springfield Senior Services (GSSSI), said in a video she posted on YouTube.

The GSSSI posted the video to urge seniors to be aware of scams that use the public’s fear and trust during the COVID pandemic to gain access to their information, and in some cases, their homes.

Lee-Turgeon highlighted three types of scams that are using the pandemic as an opportunity. First, is people who are impersonating the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). She said people are receiving phone calls asking for social security numbers, dates of birth and bank account numbers, supposedly to send people the stimulus checks from the recently passed federal CARES Act.

The IRS will not call to ask for personal information, Lee-Turgeon said. For more information about the stimulus checks, visit irs.gov/coronavirus-tax-relief-and-economic-impact-payments.

Another phone call scam circulating is from those impersonating officials from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The caller offers to sell tests, cures or treatments for the coronavirus. Lee-Turgeon emphasized in her video that there are currently no cures for the coronavirus. Furthermore, she said, the CDC will never call offering to sell products to the public.

Other CDC impersonators are coming to people’s doors, dressed in full hazmat suits, to “test” the houses or residents for the coronavirus, when the real goal is to gain access to homes.

“Thankfully, we haven’t had too many reports here,” Lee-Turgeon told Reminder Publishing, but noted that colleagues in other parts of the state have seen an uptick in these kinds of crimes.

There are a few things the public can do to protect themselves.

“Definitely, always ask for an ID,” Lee-Turgeon said. Also, do not let anyone in your home that you don’t personally know. She said agencies can be called directly to ensure the identity of anyone on the phone or at the door. “Whoever the agency is, [the public] should be able to call and verify that they are who they say they are,” Lee-Turgeon said, and noted that she is always happy to verify the legitimacy of the GSSSI personnel providing services.

For more information on Greater Springfield Senior Services, visit gsssi.org or call 781-8800.

Another resource for the aged community is Elder Protective Services at 800-922-2275.