As if it weren’t hard enough to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment, criminals began to capitalize on consumer confusion with a new worrying deluge of scams.
The scams include fake websites designed to resemble those of vaccine manufacturers such as Moderna (MRNA) and Pfizer (PFE), which 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 vaccine for every American adult by the end of May – but in the meantime, scammers will take the chance to explore the launch as people try to get the vaccine as soon as possible. So, what is the best way to avoid becoming a victim? The main thing to remember is that you will never have to pay for a COVID-19 vaccine.
Scams that try to get you to pay for the vaccine
While scammers are trying to trick people into paying for the vaccine, the reality is that the federal government is already paying for vaccines for everyone living 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 can charge your insurance provider. You, however, do not need to pay anyone.
If you bought a vaccine online and received something in the mail, don’t use it. There is no way to say what the substance could actually be.
Scams that ask you to pay to enter a vaccine waiting list
Getting an appointment with the vaccine is a pain. States and cities are struggling to cope with the flood of people trying to gain access to a limited number of vaccines, pushing sites to the brink and, in some cases, causing cancellations. Even so, no place in the United States will charge for making an appointment.
And while it may be tempting, making appointments through third-party services that promise to carry a vaccine on your arm bypassing government or pharmacy websites is nothing more than scams. Avoid them.
The best way to get an appointment is to go to your local health council website and search for available appointments. You can also call the health council if your Internet connection is not strong or reliable enough to be online for long periods.
Promises to do tests before getting the vaccine
When you are going to get a COVID vaccine, you are just there to get an injection. If you receive an email, text message or phone call asking you to pay in advance to take a COVID test, it’s a scam. According to the FBI, criminals are using this means to steal money from unknown victims.
You will not need any tests to get the COVID vaccine, so if someone other than your doctor advises you, you are being considered a fraud.
Fraudulent sites that promise cash vaccines
Like any online scam, fake websites have proven to be a problem for Americans looking for COVID vaccines. A specific scheme that was taken down by the Maryland federal authorities was masquerading as the Modernatx.com website. To deceive the victims, the website, which stole the look and design of Moderna’s own website, used the URL Modernatx.shop and promised vaccine deliveries to the victims’ homes.
Authorities have stopped at least three other fake sites in Maryland so far.
Tips to keep in mind
In general, your best bet is always to be skeptical of everything that seems too good to be true. Finding nominations for the vaccine is difficult as more people become eligible, and this is unlikely to change in the immediate future.
That said, there is no service that sells a vaccine, schedule you for a fee or ask that you pay for the tests before receiving the vaccine. These are all scams. To stay safe, follow the advice of local, state, or federal websites only.
And remember, keep using that mask.
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