Saida Maalin | Contributor

Americans are being alerted to beware of COVID-19 related scams including calls, advertisements, emails and text messages.

“If you receive calls, emails, or other communications claiming to be from the Treasury Department and offering COVID-19 related grants or stimulus payments in exchange for personal financial information, or an advance fee, or charge of any kind, including the purchase of gift cards, please do not respond,” the U.S. Department of Treasury is warning citizens not to respond.

Scammers seem to be taking advantage of people during this pandemic. Any fears associated with the pandemic is what these criminals are preying upon.

The World Health Organization (WHO)  is begging everyone to keep their eye out for phone calls and texts claiming to be addressed from them asking for account information or money.

Other scams include fake take-home test kits, vaccines, charity scams and debt relief programs. People are warned not to give out any personal information, especially financial.

Unknown calls, text messages and social media advertisements have been the main ways cybercriminals take advantage of people.

There are many organizations working to protect consumers including the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), World Health Organization, United States Department of Treasury, Better Business Bureau, Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations.

“If you think you’ve been a victim of a coronavirus scam, contact law enforcement immediately,”it states on the FCC website.

Financially, many families are taking a hit during this crisis. Don’t be bamboozled into an over-sensationalized work from home job offer from scammers impersonating companies.

The FCC has provided six tips on how to assure your personal and financial safety from these COVID-19 related scams.

These tips include being cautious of who you respond to in texts, emails and phone, to protect your financial and personal information by not giving it to anyone, government agencies will never call your phone, charity can be verified online and to not click on questionable links attached to a text.

If you wish to file a complaint about related scams visit fcc.gov/complaints.