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As if it wasn’t hard enough to score an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine, criminals have started to capitalize on consumer confusion with a troubling new deluge of scams.
The scams include bogus websites designed to look like those of vaccine makers like Moderna (MRNA) and Pfizer (PFE) that steal your personal information. Others offer false promises of early access to vaccines, sometimes in the form of home births.
This week, President Joe Biden said the United States will have enough vaccines for every American adult by the end of May – but in the meantime, crooks will jump at the chance to exploit the deployment. because people will try to get vaccinated as soon as possible. So what’s the best way to avoid becoming a victim? The main thing to remember if you will never have to pay for a COVID-19 vaccine.
Scams that try to charge you for your vaccine
While the crooks try to get people to pay for the vaccine, the reality is that the federal government is already paying for the vaccines for everyone who lives in the United States. The only type of payment involving the vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is the administration fee that your vaccine administrator might charge your insurance provider. However, you don’t have to pay anyone.
If you bought a vaccine online and received something in the mail, do not use it. It is not known what the substance might actually be.
Plans requiring you to pay to get on a vaccine waiting list
Getting an appointment for a vaccine is a pain. States and cities are struggling to cope with the deluge of people trying to access a limited number of vaccines, pushing websites to the brink and, in some cases, causing cancellations. Yet, no place in the United States will charge you for making an appointment.
And while it might be tempting, making appointments through third-party services that promise to get your arm shot by bypassing government or drugstore websites are just scams. Avoid them.
The best way to get an appointment is to go to your local board of health website and search for available appointments. You can also call your health board if your internet connection is not strong or reliable enough to stay online for long periods of time.
Promises to test before getting vaccinated
When you get vaccinated against COVID, you are only there to get the vaccine. If you receive an email, text, or phone call asking you to prepay for a COVID test, it is a scam. According to the FBI, criminals use just such a means to steal money from unconscious victims.
You won’t need any testing to get your COVID vaccine, so if anyone other than your doctor asks you to, you are set up for fraud.
Scam websites promising vaccines for cash
Like any online scam, bogus websites have proven to be a problem for Americans looking for COVID vaccines. One particular system that was removed by federal authorities in Maryland was masquerading as the Modernatx.com site. To deceive the victims, the site, which stole the look and design of the current Moderna site, used the Modernatx.shop URL and promised vaccine deliveries to the victims’ homes.
Authorities have already disrupted at least three other bogus sites in Maryland so far.
Tips to keep in mind
In general, your best bet is to always be skeptical of anything that sounds too good to be true. It is difficult to find appointments for a vaccine as more and more people become eligible, and this is unlikely to change in the immediate future.
That said, there is no service that will sell you a vaccine, schedule a fee, or ask you to pay for tests before you receive your vaccine. These are all scams. To stay safe, only take advice from local, state, or federal websites.
And remember, keep wearing this mask.
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Do you have any advice? Email Daniel Howley at [email protected] over via encrypted mail to [email protected]and follow him on Twitter at @DanielHowley.
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