The FBI recently put out a press release warning residents of fraud schemes that are related to the recently released COVID-19 vaccines. This is what you need to know about these schemes.

  • Ad's that give you early access to the vaccine in exchange for a payment or fee.
  • Anyone asking you to pay out of pocket for the vaccine
  • Someone asking you to sign up for the vaccine on a 'waiting list
  • Marketers/phone calls offering to sell you or ship you a dose of the vaccine in exchange for payment
  • Claims of FDA approval that aren't verifiable
  • Phone calls or emails from people stating they are with the government and are requiring you to get a vaccine.

That's a lot of things to remember, and there are a few more on the FBI's website. The bottom line of the vaccine-related fraud items is that no one is looking for money before the shot, and your personal information isn't being taken for a 'waiting' list.

The FBI is advising people that if they "believe that they have been the victim of a COVID-19 fraud, immediately report it to the FBI (ic3.govtips.fbi.gov, or 1-800-CALL-FBI) or HHS OIG (tips.hhs.gov or 1-800-HHS-TIPS)."

It's rather sad that people are using COVID-19 as a way to scam folks out of personal information and money, but that's what these people do. Keep an eye on your relatives, and or elderly neighbors and friends and make sure they aren't being duped by any of these vaccine scams.

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