Insurance scams are nothing new, but Canton police are looking into a group trying to take advantage and profit off the thing affecting everyone's lives right now: the coronavirus pandemic.
About 6:45 p.m. Monday, police were alerted that three people were going around Canton neighborhoods attempting to sell supplemental COVID-19 insurance, police spokesman Pacer Cordry told AJC.com. The targeted areas were near East Main and Crisler streets.
RELATED: Cops warn residents about scammers going door to door offering coronavirus tests
Cordry said two women were going door to door in attempts to sell the fake insurance policies, while a man was targeting homeowners on his own.
“It didn’t sound very organized,” he said. “... They went to a few houses before they became spooked and haven’t acted since.”
MORE: Coronavirus Scams: How to Protect Yourself
As far as police know, no one fell for the scheme and purchased useless insurance.
If caught, Cordry said the trio will be charged with violating the city's shelter in place ordinance, which prohibits soliciting through April 12. He also said a fraud investigation would be launched, which would carry much more serious consequences. No other information on the three suspects was available.
This is the latest scam attempt centered around COVID-19 in Georgia.
Last week, a Braselton man was charged in a federal health care fraud investigation after being accused of submitting phony claims to insurance providers.
RELATED: Georgia man accused of scheming plan to profit from coronavirus tests
In South Georgia, a Jesup man was arrested after authorities said he dressed up in a “quarantine suit” and went door to door while offering bogus COVID-19 tests.
MORE: South Georgia man wearing 'quarantine suit' claimed to be with CDC, deputies say
Some have even taken to impersonating officers to capitalize on coronavirus fears and misinformation. Dawson County and Gainesville authorities believe the same man has conducted traffic stops in an attempt to enforce a non-existence curfew in both areas last week.
ALSO: Cop impersonator strikes again, tries to enforce non-existent lockdown, sheriff says
Anyone with information on the Canton scheme is asked to contact police at 770-720-4883.
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