BBB Scam Alert: Consumers should prepare for scams ahead of the COVID-19 vaccine

The United States has approved the first COVID-19 vaccine, which, for many, means a chance to reunite with loved ones and a sense of normalcy. For scammers, a vaccine means an opportunity to steal from hopeful consumers. After using the pandemic to sell fake testing kits and promote fraudulent vaccine trials, BBB anticipates scammers will use the vaccine rollout to lure individuals into phishing scams or paying for fraudulent treatments.

Consumers may notice an increase in suspicious texts or emails claiming to have information about the vaccine in exchange for some personal information. Some may come across advertisements on social media or find letters in the mail informing them where they can purchase the vaccine. Before you open messages or ads regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, review these tips from your Better Business Bureau:

• Research carefully. Fact check any information you receive about the vaccine using official sources such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) or the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA is also regularly updating its website with any progress made on developing treatments.
• Ask your doctor. If you are interested in receiving the vaccine early, discuss your options with your healthcare provider. If you do not have a primary care physician, you can find more information on your local health department’s website.
• Avoid acting immediately. Scammers may urge you to act quickly by paying for treatment or sharing your information before you have time to think through the decision. Although you may want to be first in line to receive the vaccine, take your time to do thorough research before acting.
• Check the URL. Websites run by scammers can be persuasive, so check the URL and look for suspicious typos. If the information appears to be coming from a government website, the web address will end with .gov. Also, be sure the URL begins in “https,” which indicates a site is secure.

For more tips on avoiding scams, visit us at BBB.org. Check CDC.gov and FDA.gov for the latest updates on COVID-19 and vaccinations.

ABOUT BBB®: For more than 100 years, the Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. In 2019, people turned to BBB more than 183 million times for BBB Business Profiles on nearly 5.8 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at bbb.org. The International Association of Better Business Bureaus is the umbrella organization for the local, independent BBBs in the United States, Canada and Mexico. BBB Serving the Heart of Texas serves 105 counties in Austin, Bryan, Corpus Christi, Fort Worth, Permian Basin, San Antonio and Waco.