As COVID-19 vaccine rolls out, scammers cash in
- Kim Thompson: Better Business Bureau
- February 8, 2021
- 1047
COVID-19 vaccine distribution is in full swing, and scammers have been quick to take advantage. BBB Scam Tracker is getting reports of cons ranging from calls phishing for personal information to phony messages claiming you need to pay to guarantee your dose. If you are eligible to receive the vaccine, be sure to double check any messages before sharing personal information.
You get a phone call, social-media message or an email saying you are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. It appears to come from a friend, a public-health official or someone from a local hospital or clinic. That’s great news! You start to schedule your appointment, but you quickly find there’s a catch. The person who contacted you needs personal information or requires you to pay up front.
For example, in one version reported to BBB Scam Tracker, a phony caller claims they need your Medicare number and home address.
“I gave [the scammer] my Medicare number and confirmed my name and address,” one victim reported. “He said he was going to come out to my house to administer the [COVID-19] test and then the vaccine, but he never showed.”
In another version scammers are impersonating people on social media, contacting their “friends” and claiming that, if paid, they can “guarantee the vaccine ASAP.”
In yet another version, scammers are offering vaccine shots for as low as $150 on apps and through email.
No matter what scammers insist, be sure to check it against information from your local government or official news sources. Even if you don't pay up, sharing personal information with scammers opens you up to the risk of identity theft.
Know your region’s plan for rolling out the vaccine. In the United States, each state has its own process for dispensing the vaccine. Check with your local government or health department. Understanding the process in your area and how you can expect to be contacted will help you spot a scam.
Research carefully. Scammers are very creative, so be skeptical of anything that seems too good, or crazy, to be true. Double check any information about the vaccine with official news sources and be aware none of the vaccines can be currently purchased online or in stores.
Check with your doctor. If you want a vaccine early, reach out to your healthcare provider about your options. If you don't have a primary-care physician, check out the official website of your local health department for more information.
Guard your government-issued numbers. Never offer your Medicare ID number, Social Security number, health plan information or banking information to anyone you don’t know or trust.
Think the link may be real? Double check the URL. Scammers often buy official-looking URL domains to use in their cons. Be careful to ensure the link destination is really what it claims to be. If the message claims to be from the local government, make sure the URL ends in .gov. When in doubt, perform a separate internet search for the website or call the source directly.
Read more about coronavirus scams on the FTC's website at www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2020/02/coronavirus-scammers-follow-headlines and on www.BBB.org/coronavirus. Learn more about the disease at the CDC’s FAQ page.
If you’ve spotted a scam (whether or not you’ve lost money), report it to www.BBB.org/ScamTracker. Your report can help others avoid falling victim to scams. Find more information about scams and how to avoid them at www.BBB.org/AvoidScams.
Visit www.bbb.org/canton or call 330-454-9401 to look up a business, file a complaint, write a customer review, read tips, follow on social media and more.