Watch out for these coronavirus vaccine scams

Despite many hardships, 2020 ended with a high rating: two COVID-19 vaccine It became available in December (and the third will soon follow, Will be available in January). However, with the deployment of the vaccine, many myths and fears arose. And now scam..

Coronavirus scams are nothing new- The FBI stopped hundreds of coronavirus scams in 2020From fake cures to charity drives-but 2021 began with many scams directly related to vaccines.

FBI Warning statement Open to the public on December 21, it urges people to stay vigilant and be aware of these eight vaccine scams that are prevalent.

read more: Side effects of COVID-19: What we know so far

Scam: Priority access payment

The federal government Vaccine deployment schedule, And there is no way to jump the line. You cannot skip ahead of medical professionals, care facility residents and workers, senior citizens, educators, firefighters, police officers, agricultural workers, and other essential workers in priority groups.

Protect yourself: Ignore junk emails, text messages and phone calls asking you to pay for priority access to the COVID-19 vaccine. Do not click on online ads, event pages, or other web pages that promise priority access for a fee.

Scam: Schedule appointments via Eventbrite and other platforms

When it’s time to get the COVID-19 vaccine, you may need to make a reservation, but it doesn’t happen on Eventbrite or other event platforms. Submitting from the sign-up form could allow fraudsters to steal your personal information.

Protect yourself: When it’s time to get the vaccine, call the medical facility you plan to go to. Please make a reservation by phone if necessary.

Scam: Vaccine out-of-pocket

COVID-19 vaccine Will be provided free of charge to everyone in the United States, Whether you have health insurance. You shouldn’t pay for the vaccine, and you shouldn’t expect a surprise bill after the fact, as the federal government stipulates that vaccines don’t cost Americans.

You may Receive an invoice for vaccine management fees Or at other out-of-pocket costs, it is unclear whether the insurance company will have to pay these fees in full or the redemption fund will have to pay them. If you request other medical services when you book your vaccine, you may need to pay for those services or request a refund from your insurance.

Protect yourself: Do not do so, especially if you have been asked to pay the vaccine in advance. If your invoice is incorrect, call your provider to explain the problem and find out about your refund options.

Scam: Request a virus or antibody test before vaccination

Proof of COVID-19 virus test Antibody test Get the vaccine. But scammers continue to create opportunities to reach out to people by phone, text, and email, demanding that they buy and take tests. This kind of advertisement is also popping up online.

Protect yourself: You do not need to be tested for COVID-19 or antibodies before vaccination with COVID-19, so ignore any phone calls, text messages, emails, or advertisements that tell you to do so.

Scam: You’re paying to put your name on the waiting list

Technically there is a waiting list for the COVID-19 vaccine, but you don’t have to pay to get on it-everyone already does, Start with high-risk, high-priority people.. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, predicts that the vaccine will be generally available from midsummer to early fall 2021. Forbes ReportTherefore, if you are not in the priority group listed in the vaccine deployment plan, do not expect to be vaccinated by then unless public health authorities give you specific instructions.

Protect yourself: Ignore the request to pay a fee to be on the waiting list for the COVID-19 vaccine and do not provide any personal or financial information to anyone requesting to do this. When you call a medical facility to register to get the vaccine, they may put you on the waiting list, but you should not charge a fee.

Scam: Shipping doses for a fee

Vaccines are not shipped anywhere except for the medical centers and pharmacies involved in the deployment. COVID-19 vaccine cannot be shipped to home. Also, the ads that promise this are fake. Fraudsters may collect your personal and financial information in this way.

Protect yourself: Do not try to ship the vaccine to your home, knowing that you can only get the COVID-19 vaccine at a pharmacy or medical facility.

Scams: Emails, text messages, phone calls from fake vaccine centers and insurance companies

You may receive one-sided messages or phone calls from people who claim to work for a vaccine center, pharmacy, or insurance company. These scammers may request personal or medical information to see if you are eligible to be vaccinated, but everyone is eligible to be vaccinated at different times.

Protect yourself: Ignore phone calls and text messages from unknown numbers. Do not open suspicious emails, click links, or provide personal information. Also, when inoculating a vaccine, Reputable pharmacies and healthcare facilities..

Scam: Online advertising of vaccine doses from unofficial sources

Scammers are promoting the COVID-19 vaccine as if the vaccine were another product that could be ordered online. Advertisements that are not from official public health sources may be trying to direct fraudsters to phishing websites that could steal your personal or financial information.

Protect yourself: Ignore ads from unofficial sources. Official public health sources include CDC, WHO, FDA, other government agencies, hospitals, pharmacies, and other medical centers.

The information contained in this article is for educational and informative purposes only and is not intended to provide health or medical advice. Always consult your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider if you have any questions about your medical condition or health goals.