BBB warns of COVID-19 scams
MGN Online
and last updated 2021-02-24 12:53:57-05
COVID-19 vaccine distribution is spreading across Acadiana and scammers have been quick to take advantage.
Better Business Bureau Serving Acadiana has heard reports of cons ranging from phishing calls for personal information to phony messages claiming consumers need to pay to guarantee a dose of the vaccine.
If you are eligible to receive the vaccine, be sure to double check any messages before sharing personal information, according to BBB officials.
How the Scam Works:
Consumers receive a phone call, social media message or an email saying they are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Milwaukee
, Wis. – 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.
How the Scam Works:
You get a phone call, social media message, or an email saying that you are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. It appears to comes 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 upfront.
| UPDATED: 08:57, Sat, Jan 16, 2021
Link copied
Boris Johnson warns of threat of coronavirus to younger people Sign up to receive our rundown of the day s top stories direct to your inbox
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Reports to Action Fraud have been rising in the last two months, particularly around scam text messages, as con artists seek to gain from the pandemic. City of London Police are investigating one case in which a man knocked on the door of a 92-year-old woman and administered a fake vaccine before charging £160 and claiming it would be reimbursed by the NHS.
BBB: A COVID-19 vaccine is on the way — so are the scams unionrecorder.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from unionrecorder.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Donât fall for it! Sunday, December 20, 2020 4:00 AM
What to Expect from Scammers:
Government officials have already been cracking down on phony COVID testing kits and treatments. Now, they are ramping up efforts to prevent the sale of fake vaccines.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is working with the drug companies developing the vaccines to stop the sale and distribution of phony versions. Also, the Federal Trade Commission issued warning letters to several companies claiming they had a product to cure or prevent the virus.
Selling fake vaccines and other treatments is likely only one of many ways scammers will try to cash in on the vaccine release. Watch out for phishing messages attempting to trick you into sharing your passwords and personal information. Con artists have already impersonated the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in phishing emails that claim to have news about the dise