Scammers take a stab at preying on public health fears with COVID-19 schemes.
By Deb Hipp for Debt.com
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a warning in December to Americans that scammers are using the public’s interest in COVID-19 vaccines to obtain personally identifiable information (PII) and money through a number of schemes.[1]
In December, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized both the Pfizer COVID-19 and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use, and those vaccines, along with Operation Warp Speed distribution plans, have been in the news daily.[2]
So, of course, scammers have stepped up to cash in on Americans’ COVID-19 fears and concerns with fake advertisements for vaccines, bogus messages asking for personal information in exchange for a vaccine and offers for early access to a vaccine for a deposit or fee. Fortunately, however you don’t have to get ripped off by these vaccine opportunists.
Joe McUbed / Shutterstock.com
