The arrival of COVID-19 vaccines to Minnesota, which are now being distributed and administered to some groups, has led to a new kind of scam: requesting money or personal information in exchange for the opportunity to get vaccinated. Don’t be fooled. The following is a list of tips to help you stay alert and protect yourself against this kind of fraud.
Asking for personal information. To get vaccinated against COVID-19, neither the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) nor your health care provider will ever reach out to you asking for money, personal information like Social Security number, credit card or bank account information. Do not send your personal information by email, text or social media. To find out what information you might be asked, read this post.
Trying to sell you the COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine is free for everyone, whether or not they have health insurance and regardless of their personal situation or immigration status. If someone offers you a low cost vaccine, it’s a scam.
Offering to send you your vaccine. The vaccine must be given by a healthcare professional and will never be sent directly to you.
Be careful with emails, automated phone calls, and fake texts claiming to be businesses, organizations, or State agencies, as this is a common fraudulent practice. A few warning signs that indicate it’s fake include: calls from unknown numbers, automated messages with impersonal and generic greetings, alarmist language creating a sense of urgency, etc.
If you think you’ve detected or have been victim of a scam, do not respond. You can report fraud to the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office using this form.
Resources for other questions and fraud reporting:
- HHS-OIG Hotline: 1-800-HHS-TIPS hhs.gov
- FBI Hotline: 1-800-CALL-FBI gov
- CMS/Medicare Hotline: 1-800-MEDICARE
Sources: https://www.health.state.mn.us/ | https://www.cdc.gov/
