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
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