Financial Crime Investigation and Analysis: Virgin Islands Authorities Warn of COVID-19 Scams

St. Thomas, USVI - In an effort to prevent taxpayers from being victimized by criminals exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic, top officials from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue (Bureau), and the V.I. Department of Justice gathered today to warn Virgin Islanders about potential scams related to economic impact payments.

Fraudsters Exploiting the Crisis

According to U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert, fraudsters are taking advantage of the crisis to commit crimes, and it is essential for taxpayers to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to federal law enforcement. “Fraudsters who prey on vulnerable victims will be held accountable for their criminal conduct,” she emphasized.

Everyone at Risk

The authorities warned that everyone receiving a COVID-19-related economic impact payment from the government is at risk of being targeted by scammers. Michael J. De Palma, Special Agent in Charge of the IRS-CI Miami Field Office, stated that criminals “will continue to engage in heinous acts to further enrich themselves, demonstrating no sympathy for exploiting you during your most difficult circumstance.”

Tips to Avoid Scams

To prevent scams, authorities offered the following guidance:

The Bureau will mail checks to the last known address on taxpayers’ 2018 tax returns.
Neither the Bureau nor IRS will call and ask for payment details; do not give out personal financial information.
Hang up if you receive suspicious calls or texts claiming to verify your payment details.
Be cautious of bogus checks, as they may be fraudulently issued.

Importance of Staying Connected

Shappert urged Virgin Islanders to stay connected and inform law enforcement, family, and friends of any suspicious activity involving a fraud or financial scam. “Our citizens should not allow criminals to victimize innocent people by exploiting emotions during this crisis,” she said.

Joint Efforts to Combat Fraud

IRS-CI will continue to pursue criminals who violate the law and attack the community, working alongside the Department of Justice and law enforcement counterparts to identify scams and bring perpetrators to justice.

Resources for More Information

For more information on COVID-19-related fraud and scams, visit the IRS website at www.irs.gov/coronavirus or the DOJ Website at http://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. You can also contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via email at disaster@leo.gov.