Monterey County agency receives reports of COVID-19 government bond scam

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION) The Monterey County Department of Social Services is warning community members about a reported phishing scam mentioning COVID-19 government bonds.

The agency said it has received multiple reports of the scam, and the program does not exist.

The scam involves emails, text messages, phone calls, mail or social media posts about government programs to help people stay in their homes and requesting personal information.

The Department of Social Services says you should not click the links or respond to messages because scammers may try to steal account information, Social Security numbers, bank information or other personal information.

To verify if a social services program is legitimate, you can contact the Monterey County Department of Social Services at 831-755-8500.