Yonkers Insider: Westchester County Legislator Tyrae Woodson Samuels, 13th District: Potential COVID-19 Vaccine Phishing Fraud.

 

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

With the COVID-19 vaccine being delivered across the United States, we'll also start seeing online scams to gather personal information from individuals.

Online and e-mail spam fraud is moving very quickly and will take many forms. Scammers rapidly alter their tactics and adapt their schemes to the changing landscape. We all can anticipate that these scammers will leverage the pending COVID-19 vaccine to prey on unsuspecting beneficiaries.

At this point, it is essential that the public is aware of these likely schemes and be armed with information on how to protect themselves. Here are some pointers to that end:

• You likely will not need to pay anything out of pocket to get the vaccine during this public health emergency.
• You cannot pay to put your name on a list to get the vaccine.
• You cannot pay to get early access to the vaccine.
• No one from Medicare or the Health Department with contact you.
• No one from a vaccine distribution site or health care payer, like a private insurance company, will call you asking for your Social Security number or your credit card or bank account information to sign you up to get the vaccine.
• Beware of providers offering other products, treatments, or medicines to prevent the virus. Check with your health care provider before paying for or receiving any COVID-19-related treatment.
• If you get a call, text, e-mail — or even someone knocking on your door — claiming they can get you early access to the vaccine, STOP. That’s a scam.

Please be sure to share this information with your family and friends, especially those who may be apt to be mislead.

Sincerely,