“These swindlers are smart, especially at a time when we feel vulnerable,” said an official. See how to protect yourself against vaccine appointment scams.
While many senior citizens in Maryland struggle to apply online for vaccination appointments, Montgomery County, Maryland, says it is seeing an increase in scams.
“These swindlers are smart, especially at a time when we feel vulnerable,” said Eric Friedman, director of the Montgomery County Consumer Protection Office.
The scams have been rampant during the pandemic, but Friedman said he is seeing several phishing scams targeting seniors seeking pre-registration for the COVID-19 vaccine and he has advice on the targets.
On the one hand, keep an eye out for ads on social media or by email asking for payment to get a spot on the vaccine waiting list or to ensure an appointment.
“You never have to pay to get tested or vaccinated,” said Friedman.
Scammers have developed a way to circumvent some of the pre-registration systems set up by local governments, health systems and private pharmacies. Misleading e-mail messages seek to trick consumers into providing their social security numbers, credit card information or banks, the county said in a video statement.
“We recognize that scammers seek to exploit news events and cause financial damage to consumers and businesses. So, in addition to providing information about vaccines and tests, we also need to provide alerts to prevent residents from becoming targets and victims of COVID-19-related scams that can cause financial damage, ”said county executive Marc Elrich in a statement. communicated.
If a consumer is unsure whether an offer or contact about a vaccine appointment is legitimate, Friedman’s office recommends calling 311 to double check.
“We use a mask to protect ourselves. Therefore, we also have to protect ourselves when we are on our computers. Just as they tell us to wash your hands for 20 seconds, look at the email message for 20 seconds, ”said Friedman.
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Looking for more information? DC, Maryland and Virginia are rolling out more data every day. Visit their official websites here: Virginia | Maryland | A.D
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