The Justice Department has launched a task force that would bolster existing law enforcement efforts cracking down on CCP virus-related fraud. The task force, which will be led by the deputy attorney general, will augment existing investigations and enforcement initiatives to detect and disrupt COVID-19-related fraud. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a memo on Monday that the department has already charged nearly 600 individuals with crimes related to COVID-19 scams totaling over $600 million across the country. “The Department has secured civil injunctions against persons or companies selling fraudulent products, seized loan proceeds from fraudulent applications, and convicted criminals who have defrauded consumers and misappropriated federal dollars intended to support struggling individuals and businesses,” Garland said in the memo sent to department heads (pdf). Specifically, the task force will help the department identify cross-governmental resources, investigative techniques, and information for uncovering fraud schemes and those who perpetrate them, harness lessons learned …