The pandemic continues to rage throughout the U.S. and the world. And of course, bad guys are continuing to use our fear of COVID-19 and desire for a vaccine as lures for scams.
What To Be on the Lookout For
Required Payments
You may see ads that promise you early access to the vaccine. These ads will require you to pay a deposit or upfront fee to receive the vaccine or be added to the waitlist. In truth, you will not have to pay an upfront deposit or fee to sign up for the vaccine. Only sign up for the vaccine through trusted sources, like your local government health services agency. Use the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website to find out how and when you can get vaccinated.
Fake Ads
Fake ads for vaccines are circulating via social media platforms, email, telephone calls, online, and from unsolicited/unknown sources. Local government health services agencies and healthcare providers dispensing vaccines share information on their legitimate websites and other communication channels. For more information about the vaccine program in your state, find your state’s health department.
If you say a fake COVID-19 vaccine ad on social media or a website, report it to the social media platform or website where you saw the ad.
Attempts to Get Personal Information
You may receive unsolicited emails, telephone calls, or text messages from someone claiming to be from a medical office, insurance company, or COVID-19 vaccine center requesting your personal and/or medical information to determine if you’re eligible to get the vaccine.
If someone got hold of your personal or medical information, visit our Identity Theft resource pages for help.
Disinformation
You might read articles or see notifications that the government requires you to receive a COVID-19 vaccine or that the vaccine is causing significant health impacts. Remember, anyone can post opinions or conspiracy theories online. For accurate information about the COVID-19 vaccine, visit the CDC’s website.
Stay Updated with Trusted Sources to Avoid COVID-19 Vaccine Scams
- Visit ScamSpotter.org to learn how to spot a scam using the three golden rules
- Go to the CDC website and the World Health Organization website for accurate information about the COVID-19 vaccines
- Find your state health department’s website for information about the coronavirus and the COVID-19 vaccines in your state
- Visit our COVID-19 Scams Alert blog for updates on other COVID-19 scams
- Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration