Justice warns of eight possible fraud schemes related to the COVID-19 vaccine

The Justice Department’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit alerted both the population and the benefits of the Medicare and Medicaid programs to eight possible vaccine-related fraud schemes to combat COVID-19.

“Based on the test-related schemes for detecting COVID-19, we must expect scammers to adjust and make changes in the way they operate before the vaccine arrives to fight the virus. The scammers adjust their schemes quickly to get closer to the victims, “said prosecutor Rita Rodriguez-Falciani, director of the aforementioned anti-fraud unit.

Rodriguez-Falciani highlighted the following points so that the population is not a victim of fraud:

1. You do not have to pay any amount of money for the vaccine during this public emergency. No one can claim the deductible or co-insure payment.

2. You do not have to pay for that inclusion on a waiting list to receive the vaccine.

3. You do not have to pay to get quick access to the vaccine.

4. No person from the Medicare or Medicaid Program will contact you by phone to make an offer.

5. No person from a vaccine distribution center or a payer such as a health insurance plan will call you to ask for information about your social security number, credit card, or account. bank, in order to include him in a list so that he can be vaccinated.

6. Beware of suppliers who offer products, treatments, or medications to prevent the virus. Always check with your healthcare provider before paying for or receiving any COVID-19 related treatment.

7. If you get a call, text message, email, or someone knocks on your door, claiming you can get quick access to the vaccine, digit no. Surely this is a fraudulent scheme.

8. If you receive specific information related to a COVID-19 vaccine fraud scheme, please notify the [email protected]; a [email protected] now [email protected], as soon as you can.

“Vaccination against the COVID-19 virus opens the door so that Puerto Rico can soon return to normal and for the citizens who will continue with their daily lives synthesizing safe and healthy. We must all fight the scams that damage these public health initiatives “, says the agency’s interim secretary, Inés Carrau Martínez.

You can contact the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit through the [email protected] and / or telephones (787) 721-2900 ext. 1560, 1561 or 1559. You can also call the hotline at (787) 342-5521.