The bill carries a penalty of 15 to 35 years for COVID-19 fraudsters

Beware of bad security gear vendors and thieves of trigger checks: The two-part new bill has sentenced decades of imprisonment to fraudulent artists exploiting the corona virus infection.

The law, which was introduced late Thursday, will temporarily increase federal criminal penalties for infection-related fraud by 15 years and COVID-19-linked counterfeiters by 35 years.

The Corona Virus Swindlers, Crooks and Handlers (SCAM) Act was introduced by Tom Longo, a Long Island Democrat, and Republican Eastern Pennsylvania Rep. Daniel Mueser. Their 200 1,200 trigger checks via phishing emails and reports of fake security masks.

“It is very sad to see elderly Americans being used in the midst of epidemic concerns,” Swazi said in a statement to The Post. “We must do everything we can to prevent fraudulent artists from using this global crisis. I am proud to introduce this important, bipartisan legislation with Representative Muser.”

Mouser said, “The SCAM Act warns that these fraudsters will pay a steep price for their involvement.”

“Since the coronavirus epidemic began, there has been an unfortunate rise in the number of frauds aimed at using hard-working Americans and seniors,” said Mouser.

“For example, the [Federal Trade Commission] Total. The IRS has reported more than 50,000 fraudulent claims of $ 38.6 million and the IRS has investigated 15,000 false websites since the onset of economic impact payments. These fraudulent schemes are always shameful, but it is absolutely reprehensible to use vulnerable people as fraudsters at the time of this crisis. “

The law also increases maximum financial penalties for fraudsters.

To qualify for the sentence, Law “Under the Robert D. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act relating to Coronavirus Disease 2019, the President must commit a crime in connection with an emergency declared on March 13, 2020.”

The counterfeit rule states that the product “must be advertised by a person who has the ability to treat, prevent or cure COVID-19.”

The new maximum penalties for fraud laws are 45 years in prison and $ 1.5 million in fines, while counterfeit penalties can be temporarily increased to 45 years – up to 10 years for the first offense – $ 2.5 million.

There may be difficulties in owning this law, but lawmakers are working toward a fifth major coronavirus package, and there will be serious efforts to incorporate it into a larger deal.