6 coronavirus vaccine scams targeting your money and personal information, and what to do about it

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Scammers promise early access to vaccines or even a personal shipment of vaccines, of course, at a cost. But their offers are not legitimate and scammers could end up with their exposed personal information and stolen money without ever having to receive the vaccine.

Summary: If you receive communications about vaccines that appear heavy, check with your local health department. Do not provide personal information, such as bank account information or Social Security number, when requested by someone you do not know; no health department or vaccination site would require this information to give you the vaccine. And you only need to get vaccinated at authorized vaccination sites.

You will not have to pay to receive the Covid-19 vaccine when it is given. If you are asked to pay for or provide private information, it is not legitimate.

If your loved one is hesitant to get the Covid-19 vaccine, share it
You should only receive a Covid-19 vaccine at authorized vaccination sites, such as hospitals, pharmacies, or mass vaccination centers, such as sports venues. If you are not sure where to find the local vaccination site, you can search for them by state through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Your vaccine provider may charge you an “administration fee” to give you the vaccine. You can reimburse this fee through your insurance or, if you are not insured, through the Healthcare Resources and Services Provider Assistance Fund, according to the CDC. However, if you can’t afford the payment, you won’t back down.

SCAM: Early access is offered for a fee

If you receive an offer to get your Covid-19 vaccine early for a fee, ignore it. No health department or vaccination site would vaccinate someone earlier than planned if they paid for it.

The FBI warned of this scam in December 2020, and reports from the Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker show that unknown scammers have sent unsolicited texts to random users, offering them access to the vaccine regardless of where they are. find in the vaccination schedule.

SCAM: You are asked to pay to put your name on a waiting list

As mentioned above, your local health department or vaccination site will not contact you and ask you to put your payment on the waiting list. Some vaccination sites in New York, Houston and Miami have created waiting lists, mostly for seniors who are eligible to receive the vaccines now, but who have not been able to get an appointment, but vary by location.
Some have been more fortunate to appear at vaccination sites at the end of the day in search of leftover vaccines. But if the sites have additional vaccines that must be used within a few hours, you will not be asked to pay for them.
Some Americans already have the Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines available. But if an early vaccine is offered at a price, it’s likely to be a scam.

SCAM: You are asked to schedule appointments through unverified platforms

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Unless you are sure that your local health department is scheduling vaccine appointments on Eventbrite or similar platforms, you should avoid registering through sites not affiliated with your health department or pharmacy.

Some counties use Eventbrite to schedule vaccine appointments, but ambiguity has made it easier for scammers to collect revenue. In a Florida county, where they made health officials no use Eventbrite, scammers made fake accounts and charged applicants to make vaccine appointments in the county anyway.

It is best to make an appointment through the health department or local pharmacy.

SCAM: You are asked to pay to send you the vaccine

Vaccine distributors do not send doses of the vaccine to people and you should not administer it. You only need to get a vaccine at authorized vaccination sites that you can find through your state health department or the CDC.

SCAM: You are required to undergo additional testing before receiving a vaccine

You will not be asked to take an antibody test or a Covid-19 test before receiving the vaccine, so if you receive text messages, calls or emails stating that you must purchase a test before going vaccinated. hi, it’s a scam. As reported by CNET and AARP, there is no need to undergo any additional medical testing before or during the appointment with the vaccine.

How to avoid being scammed

Staying alert and informed is the best way to prevent scammers from accessing your money or private information.

It is best to contact your healthcare provider directly to get the facts, rather than interacting solely with an unknown person via email or text messages. A legitimate source is unlikely to ask you to pay for a vaccine or visit a problematic link.

If an unknown source asks for your Social Security number, bank account information, or insurance ID, don’t give it to them unless you’ve verified their identity with an official source, such as your health department. or your healthcare provider.

There are some places where you can report vaccine scams:

  • ReportFraud.ftc.gov from the Federal Trade Commission, which shares information with law enforcement
  • The FBI advice line, at tips.fbi.gov or 1-800-CALL-FBI
  • The HHS Office of the Inspector General, at tips.hhs.gov or 1-800-HHS-TIPS
  • The Better Business Bureau scam locator

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