On Tuesday, Dec. 29, the New York State Division of Consumer Protection (DCP) issued a notice alerting consumers about scammers who are taking advantage of COVID-19 vaccinations to steal personal information. Scammers are using techniques that typically arise with a major global event, such as falsely claiming to be online sellers of the vaccination, sending fake emails and texts that contain harmful links designed to steal your personal information, and using robocalls to pitch vaccination information. People should be on the lookout for scammers looking to take advantage of public interest surrounding vaccinations.

 

“The arrival of the COVID-19 vaccination brings along hope for so many of us, but it also creates new opportunities for unscrupulous scammers to attempt to lure people into unintentionally providing their personal information,” said Secretary of State Rossana Rosado. “As the vaccine is rolled out over the next several months, there are simple steps you can take to avoid COVID-19 vaccine scams that can help protect your hard-earned money and your identity.”

 

Meanwhile, New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said, “As we begin the monumental and historic task of vaccinating New Yorkers for COVID-19, we must be mindful of following verification protocols that will ensure a safe and effective vaccination process. As Governor Cuomo has announced, the vaccine will be free to receive and should be covered by insurance. New Yorkers can do their part by keeping their personal health information safe, and questioning any requests for information that are not affiliated with a trusted health or government entity.”

 

As reported by Norwood News, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recently launched the Vaccinate New York website to provide New Yorkers with a one-stop location for accurate and up-to-date information on vaccine safety, distribution priorities and a number of other details. Upon accessing the site, New Yorkers will find general information about the vaccine, and a Frequently Asked Questions section that the State said provides facts about the vaccine’s safety and efficacy.

 

State officials said this information is critical to instilling confidence in New Yorkers regarding the vaccine and in educating the public on it. Information on New York’s clinical advisory task force, which approved the FDA’s decision to move forward with the vaccine roll out in New York, as well as information on New York’s vaccine distribution and implementation task force is available on the website at www.ny.gov/vaccine.

 

DCP is sharing the following tips to help New Yorkers protect themselves against COVID-19 vaccination scams:

 

• Don’t click on links from sources you don’t know. It could download a virus onto your computer or device. Make sure the anti-malware and anti-virus software on your computer is up to date.
• Be aware of emails coming from unknown senders. Watch for emails claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or experts claiming to have information about the vaccine. For the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus in New York State, visit the New York State Department of Health website.
• Ignore online offers for vaccinations or emails claiming you can get your vaccine sooner. If you see ads touting getting your vaccination sooner for COVID-19, ask yourself: is an ad or sales pitch a trusted source of information?
• Be aware of emails asking for your personal information. Do your homework when it comes to sharing your personal information over email. Confirm by calling the sender.
• Hang up on illegal robocallers. If you receive a call about scam COVID-19 vaccines, hang up. Don’t press any numbers. The recording might say that pressing a number will let you speak to a live operator or remove you from their call list, but it might lead to more robocalls, instead.
• For up to date information on COVID-19 and vaccination information, visit the New York State Department of Health website or call the COVID-19 Hotline at 1-888-364-3065.

 

The New York State Division of Consumer Protection serves to educate, assist and empower the State’s consumers. For more consumer protection information, call the DCP Helpline at 800-697-1220, Monday through Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm or visit the DCP website at www.dos.ny.gov/consumerprotection. The Division can also be reached via Twitter at @NYSConsumer or Facebook at www.facebook.com/nysconsumer.