REDDING — Police are urging residents to protect themselves against scammers using the COVID-19 vaccine as a front.
Beware of potential scams related to the Covid-19 vaccine.
Posted by Redding CT Police Department on Sunday, December 27, 2020
According to Chief Mark O’Donnell, police have not received any threatening reports of COVID-19 scams yet, but are aware of its danger. The department urges locals to become familiar with signs of possible scams and avoid them.
Here are the signs of a potential scam you should be aware of:
1. Being asked to pay for the vaccine out of pocket.
2. Being asked to pay to put your name on a vaccine waiting list.
3. Telemarketers offering to sell and ship you vaccine doses.
4. Suspicious advertisements for vaccines over social media, email, phone calls or messages from unknown sources.
If residents detect a scam, they should refrain from sharing any personal information. Residents can report COVID-19 fraud to the HHS-OIG hotline, FBI hotline or CMS/Medicare hotline online or by phone.
HHS-OIG hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS or tips.hhs.gov
FBI hotline at 1-800-call FBI or ic3.gov
CMS/Medicare hotline at 1-800-MEDICARE