With
the COVID-19 vaccine already being distributed to
certain groups throughout the state,
officials are warning that scammers trying to make a buck from unsuspecting New
Yorkers may be coming out of the woodwork.
The director
of the New York State Division of Consumer Protection, Paula O'Brien, says now
more than ever you should always follow the No. 1 rule— if it sounds too good to
be true, it probably is.
O'Brien says over the last few years, government imposter scams have been
on the rise. She says the Federal Trade Commission reported 8,900 incidences
of COVID-19 scams in New York since the pandemic started, totaling more than
$12 million lost by New Yorkers.
Some
possible scams include someone calling to say they can get you to the front of
the vaccine line, or someone emailing to ask for personal information to make
sure you're set to go when it is your turn to get vaccinated.
O'Brien
says the only official vaccination information will come from government
sources and not to trust any third parties.
A few
tips to avoid COVID-19 vaccination scams are to not click on links from sources
you don't know, ignore online offers for vaccinations, avoid giving out
personal information and hang up on robocalls right away.
O'Brien
says not to be embarrassed if you are scammed, but do make sure to report
it right away so they can investigate the fraudster and hopefully bring
them to justice.
If you have questions about a potential scam, call Department of Consumer Protection Helpline at 800-697-1220 or visit the
DCP website.For up to date information on COVID-19 and vaccination information, visit
www.ny.gov/vaccine or call the COVID-19 Hotline at 1-888-364-3065.