The Federal Bureau of Investigation along with the Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are warning the public of emerging fraud schemes related to the COVID-19 vaccines. The public should be aware of the following potential indicators of fraud: Advertisements or offers for early access to a vaccine upon payment of a deposit or fee; Requests asking you to pay out of pocket to obtain the vaccine or to put your name on a COVID-19 vaccine waiting list; Offers to undergo additional medical testing or procedures when obtaining a vaccine; Marketers offering to sell and/or ship doses of a vaccine, domestically or internationally, in exchange for payment of a deposit or fee; Unsolicited emails, telephone calls, or personal contact from someone claiming to be from a medical office, insurance company, or COVID-19 vaccine center requesting personal and/or medical information to determine recipients’ eligibility to participate in clinical vaccine trials or obtain the vaccine; Claims of FDA approval for a vaccine that cannot be verified; Advertisements for vaccines through social media platforms, email, telephone calls, online, or from unsolicited/unknown sources; And individuals contacting you in person, by phone, or by email to tell you the government or government officials require you to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. To avoid COVID-19 vaccine-related fraud, consult your state’s health department website for the latest information on vaccine distribution and check the FDA website at fda.gov for COVID-19 vaccine information.
