Author: Joint Information Center
Date:
3/18/2021 3:13:47 PM
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3/18/2021 3:13:49 PM
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County of San Luis Obispo health officials are hearing reports from of scams involving the COVID-19 vaccine and encourage residents to remember if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers are using telemarketing calls, email, text messages, social media platforms, and door-to-door visits to perpetrate COVID-19-related scams.
In Spanish
San Luis Obispo, CA —County of San Luis Obispo health officials are hearing reports from of scams involving the COVID-19 vaccine and encourage residents to remember if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers are using telemarketing calls, email, text messages, social media platforms, and door-to-door visits to perpetrate COVID-19-related scams.
“The vaccine brings great promise that we will soon be able to return back to a more normal life,” said Dr. Penny Borenstein, County Health Officer. “Unfortunately, some people want to take advantage of people’s desire to get vaccinated for their own criminal benefit.”
Protecting yourself is the best course of action. Always verify the spelling of web addresses and email addresses that look trustworthy, as they may be imitations of legitimate websites. However, if you are unsure if a message you receive is legitimate, reach out to family, friends, or the Phone Assistance Center at (805) 543-2444 and a staff member will help you determine if the message you received is real or a scam.
Tips on how to spot a potential scam:
- Being asked to pay out of pocket to get the vaccine sooner.
- Requirements to provide credit card information for “shipping purposes”.
- Charging a fee to gain access to a vaccine or to add a person’s name to a vaccine waiting list.
- Offers by marketers to sell or ship doses of vaccine for payment.
- Receiving ads or surveys for vaccines through social media platforms or unfamiliar email addresses.
- Claims of FDA approval for a vaccine or treatment of which you’ve never heard.
Always be sure to check for the latest vaccine information on www.RecoverSLO.org/vaccine, which lists county-run vaccine sites, current eligibility requirements, as well as the pharmacy partners that are currently providing vaccine in our community.
If you believe you have been the victim of COVID-19 fraud, immediately report it to:
- HHS-OIG Hotline: 1-800-HHS-TIPS or tips.hhs.gov
- FBI Hotline: 1-800-CALL-FBI or ic3.gov
- CMS/Medicare Hotline: 1-800-MEDICARE
For updates on COVID-19 in SLO County, visit ReadySLO.org or call the recorded Public Health Information Line at (805) 788-2903. A staffed phone assistance center at (805) 543-2444 is available 7 days a week, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to assist with COVID-19 questions.
San Luis Obispo County Health Officials Warn of Emerging COVID-19 Vaccine Scams
San Luis Obispo, CA —San Luis Obispo County health officials are hearing reports of scams related to the COVID-19 vaccine and encouraging residents to remember if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers are using telemarketing calls, email, text messages, social media platforms, and door-to-door visits to perpetrate COVID-19-related scams.
“The vaccine holds great promise that we will soon be able to return to a more normal life,” said Dr. Penny Borenstein, County Health Officer. “Unfortunately, some people want to take advantage of people’s desire to get vaccinated for their own criminal gain.”
Protecting yourself is the best course of action. Always spell-check web addresses and e-mail addresses that appear to be trustworthy, as they may be counterfeits of legitimate websites. However, if you are unsure whether a message you receive is legitimate, please contact family, friends, or the Call Center at (805) 543-2444 and a staff member will help you determine if the message you received is real or a scam.
Tips on how to spot a potential scam:
• Being asked to pay out of pocket to get the vaccine sooner.
• Requirements to provide credit card information for “shipping purposes”.
• Charging a fee to get access to a vaccine or to add a person’s name to a waiting list for vaccines.
• Offers from marketers to sell or send doses of vaccine for payment.
• Receive vaccine announcements or surveys through unknown social media platforms or email addresses.
• FDA approval statements for a vaccine or treatment you’ve never heard of.
Always be sure to look for the latest vaccine information at www.RecoverSLO.org/vaccine, which lists county-administered vaccine sites, current eligibility requirements, as well as partner pharmacies that currently provide vaccines in our community.
If you believe you have been the victim of COVID-19 fraud, please report it immediately to:
• HHS-OIG Hotline: 1-800-HHS-TIPS or tips.hhs.gov
• FBI hotline: 1-800-CALL-FBI or ic3.gov
• CMS / Medicare hotline: 1-800-MEDICARE
For updates on COVID-19 in San Luis Obispo County, visit ReadySLO.org or call the Registered Public Health Information Line at (805) 788-2903. A staffed call center at (805) 543-2444 is available 7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to help with COVID-19 questions.
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