Officials are providing tips to the public to not become a victim of contact tracing scams, officials said Wednesday.

Earlier in the week, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced that $20 gift cards were expected to be given to individuals with coronavirus who participate in contact tracing.

However, public health experts are now warning the public that scammers are trying to take advantage of those who want to participate and are providing information on how to detect a contact tracing scammer.

When individuals test positive for the coronavirus a public health specialist is expected to call those individuals to see where they have been prior to getting the virus, according to officials.

The purpose of this is so that businesses you may have visited can be warned that they were exposed to an individual who has tested positive of COVID-19.

However, public health is not expected to release your identity to the businesses mentioned, according to officials.

One sign of a contact tracing scam is if the individual leading the interview requests social security numbers, bank account information or immigration status.

“Los Angeles County is doing legitimate contact tracing. But our trained public health specialists will never ask for a social security number, payment or documented status,” County officials said.

Be wary of suspicious emails, phone calls and text messages, said public health officials.

Public health is encouraging the general public to think before clicking on any links to be aware of suspicious attachments.

Anyone who believes they may be contacted by a scammer are encouraged to contact their local health department to verify that the call or messages are valid.

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