With the pace of implantation of the COVID vaccine in the US slower than expected, people who have the protection that injections will provide are getting anxious about the waiting time. Unfortunately, this has also led to the emergence of opportunistic swindlers who are trafficking a COVID vaccine scheme that the FBI wants you to take care of. According to warnings from the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Better Business Bureau and the FBI, new maneuvers are being developed to steal money and data from unsuspecting people – or even put their health and their lives at risk, LifeHacker reports. “Scammers are really starting to attack people’s hopes of getting a vaccine soon and quickly,” Sean Herdrick, a communications director for the Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona, said in an interview with local ABC affiliate KGUN.
So, what should you look for? Read on to see the tactics these swindlers are using and to learn about the latest news about the legitimate vaccine. If you have done this recently, you may have a bad reaction to the vaccine.
Read the original article at Better life.
Scammers are trying to sell fake vaccines.
Scams have been discovered in messaging apps like Telegram, where channels offer vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna or AstraZeneca for $ 110 to $ 180 each, claiming that sensitive bottles will be shipped on ice or delivered overnight for a fee, reports Reuters. .
In addition to stealing victims’ money, scams involving the sale of counterfeit vaccines can put lives at risk by failing to provide genuine dose protection – or, worse, cause a reaction. In a statement, a Pfizer spokesman warned: “Patients should never try to secure a vaccine online – no legitimate vaccines are sold online – and only be vaccinated at certified vaccination centers or by certified healthcare providers.” And to learn more about the behavior of the vaccine to be avoided, check out the FDA just decided that you can’t do these four things with COVID vaccines.
And they are trying to steal information from unsuspecting citizens.
According to cybersecurity company Recorded Future, which is tracking the COVID-19 fraud on the Internet, the domains of sites that contain references to the word “vaccine” along with “COVID-19” more than doubled from October to November, with 2,500 emerging as the first vaccine was approved, reports Reuters. Sites with a lot of keywords tend to attract innocent victims and can be used to steal sensitive personal information or infect personal computers with a completely different type of virus.
“So far, many of these domains appear to be just opportunistic records, but some will be used for phishing attempts to get people to click on (malicious) links.” Lindsay Kaye, director of operating results for Recorded Future, told Reuters. And for a very different concern about the vaccine, check out The newest COVID strain can “weaken” the vaccine, warns the expert.
Some scammers are requesting payment for placing on vaccine waiting lists.
HHS recently reported that new scams were developing alongside the launch of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. This includes scammers via email, text, phone call or home visit and trying to get Medicare numbers, financial information or credit card numbers to pay in advance and secure a spot on the COVID-19 vaccine waiting list. Criminals will use the information to commit identity theft.
The HHS website warns that “government and state officials will not call you for personal information to receive the vaccine, and you will not be asked to receive the vaccine door to door”. They add that you “should not respond or hyperlink text messages about COVID-19 from unknown people” and “be suspicious of any unexpected calls or visitors offering COVID-19 tests or supplies.” And for more information on where the vaccine may be needed, check out Dr. Fauci said that the COVID vaccine may be mandatory here.
And you should still be wary of long-lasting COVID test scams.
Unfortunately, the COVID-related scams predate the launch of vaccines. The HHS and FBI warn that certain attempts to steal money or confidential information have been going on for months, with the HHS website stating that “fraudsters also continue to offer COVID-19 tests to Medicare beneficiaries in exchange for personal details, including Medicare information. However, the services are not approved and illegitimate. “
The agency recommends that everyone be cautious of any unsolicited contact from someone who claims to offer COVID-related services and to contact local authorities if you suspect a crime. And to find out more about where the virus is coming from now, check out how bad the COVID outbreak is in your state.