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Boulder County warns of COVID tracing phone scams

During the reported phone calls, residents have been asked to provide a credit card number to purchase a test and are told they need to get tested for COVID-19 within 72 hours, according to a news release.
Longmont Leader Staff
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Photo by Pocky Lee on Unsplash

Boulder County Public Health on Tuesday warned residents of scam involving phone calls from people who claim to be conducting contact tracing for COVID-19. During the reported phone calls, residents have been asked to provide a credit card number to purchase a test and are told they need to get tested for COVID-19 within 72 hours, according to a news release.

“We are disheartened to hear that this health crisis is being used to take advantage of people,” Carol Helwig, Boulder County Public Health communicable disease program coordinator, stated in the release. “The purpose of contact tracing calls is to understand how COVID-19 is impacting the community and to try to find out how people have been exposed so that we can prevent the spread to others.”

The county health department advised residents that it will never ask for payment, Social Security numbers or proof of residency and will never require testing without first discussing an individual’s exposure.

According to Boulder County Public Health, disease investigators contact residents who have tested positive for the virus to learn and provide guidance on:

  • Who they have had contact with while infectious.

  • What their symptoms have been.

  • If they need support.

  • Demographic details, such as race/ethnicity.

When contacting someone who has not tested positive, but may have come in close contact with someone who has (e.g. contact tracing), Public Health staff provides guidance about quarantine and testing, according to the release.

“Being open and honest with our staff is vital to slowing the spread of this virus,” Helwig stated in the release. “We don’t want these fake calls to deter residents from speaking with us. You can ask the caller who they work for. They should always say Boulder County Public Health or the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.”

Residents are encouraged to contact the Boulder County District Attorney’s Community Protection Division at 303-441-3700 if they are contacted by someone stating they are a contact tracer who asks for financial or personal non-health-related information.