Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller warns:

Telephone solicitors reportedly have called Hoosiers in an effort to sell “mandatory swine flu kits,” claiming that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the U.S. Department of Homeland Security are requiring their purchase.

Such claims are false and fraudulent. No level of government is requiring the purchase of a safety kit for the North American Influenza A (H1N1) outbreak. Moreover, a medical diagnosis should be left to a medical professional.

“Not only are these telephone solicitors cynically exploiting people’s fears in order to commit fraud, but they also may be violating Indiana’s telephone privacy laws. Depending on who was contacted, this scam may violate Indiana’s Do Not Call statute; and if an unauthorized prerecorded message is used, it would violate Indiana’s Auto-Dialer statute as well. In either event, consumers who receive such calls should keep the number, if possible, so that our office can investigate,” Zoeller said.

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) is encouraging Hoosiers to maintain good hygiene practices, such as washing their hands often, and avoiding those who might be ill.

However, if you do have concerns about the flu and would like some legitimate reference material from a source you can trust, the Chamber does offer a Disaster Planning Guide that will help your organization or school prepare for and deal with issues like the flu, natural disasters, chemical spills, etc.