While the coronavirus has definitely turned 2020 around, it's understandable that with the new COVID vaccine, a number of people would potentially be eager to do anything to get it. A new type of scam is reportedly on the loose as these cybercriminals yet again try to extort money from victims that fall for their trickeries online.
COVID vaccine news
According to an article by CNet, the FBI as well as a number of other United States federal agencies have all warned about the particular scams that are related to offering the new COVID vaccine to people. These scams usually ask for either downpayment or even for the medical records or personal details of their victims.
Earlier this year, there was also an influx of those fake cures and other bizarre methods like certain suggestions that plasma coming from survivors can cure the coronavirus. This bizarre method of using the plasma from survivors was debunked by the UCSD which suggests that it is only the vaccine that can help the body combat the coronavirus.
Read Also: Moderna Vs Pfizer COVID Vaccine: Which of the FDA-Approved Shots is Better?
COVID vaccine update
While most of 2020 was focused on combating the coronavirus, a vaccine has been developed all year round in order to prevent its infection. The Pfizer COVID vaccine has already started its administration to certain health workers as well as a number of other individuals all eager to get the vaccine. It is still to be scaled for wide distribution as of the moment.
The FBI has released a list through CNet of the supposed COVID vaccine scams that are going on right now:
Ads that offer early access to the vaccine by asking a fee
Requests towards people to pay in order to put their name on the alleged vaccine waitlist
Offers that supposedly ship vaccines to the victim for a fee
Emails coming from someone claiming to be at a certain vaccine center, medical office, or even an insurance company that is asking for personal as well as medical details to allegedly check if the victim is eligible for the supposed vaccine
Phone calls coming from someone claiming to be at a certain vaccine center, medical office, or even an insurance company that is asking for personal as well as medical details to allegedly check if the victim is eligible for the supposed vaccine
Ads for the vaccine online, on social media, emails, or other phone calls that come from a seemingly odd unknown source
Emails or phone calls that claim to be coming directly from the government dictating that the victim should receive the vaccine
The FBI has given contacts on how to report these scams so that they can contact the scammers. Victims can go to either tips.fbi.gov or ic3.gov. There is also an option to call them at 1-800-CALL-FBI in order to report the scammers. Even the official FDA website has released a warning against fraudulent vaccines.
Related Article: Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Data Breach: Hackers Gain Access to Pre-Submission Documents
This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Urian Buenconsejo
