COVID vaccine scams on the rise

Scrooge and The Grinch have nothing on the scammers that attempt to take advantage of members in our community during a global health crisis.

In addition to a current scam that impersonates the DMV via text message, the New York State Office of the Aging is warning residents of a COVID-19 vaccine scam, the first in what they believe will be a continuing trend.

Here are some key points about the vaccine rollout, including signs that a COVID scam is afoot:

You likely will not need to pay anything out of pocket to get the vaccine during this public health emergency.
You cannot pay to put your name on a list to get the vaccine.
You cannot pay to get early access to the vaccine.
No one from Medicare or any national, state, county or municipal health department will contact you.
No one from a vaccine distribution site or health care payer, like a private insurance company, will call you asking for your Social Security number or your credit card or bank account information to sign you up to get the vaccine.
Beware of providers offering other products, treatments, or medicines to prevent the virus. Check with your health care provider before paying for or receiving any COVID-19-related treatment.
If you get a call, text, email — or even someone knocking on your door — claiming they can get you early access to the vaccine, STOP. That’s a scam.

To report a COVID-related scam, go to reportfraud.ftc.gov. For more information on phishing scams, as well as steps to mitigate a phishing attempt, visit the New York State Office of Information Technology Services Phishing Awareness resources page at https://its.ny.gov/resources.

Sources: LINK + https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2020/attorney-general-james-issues-alert-protect-new-yorkers-coronavirus-vaccine-scams

“Throughout this pandemic, scammers have found ways to victimize the public, with the vaccine distribution process being their latest method for fraud ... I encourage the public to report suspected illegal activity to my office.”

— Attorney General Letitia James