Key TakeawaysPhone and online scams have been on the rise during the COVID-19 pandemic. The fraud has infiltrated everything from vaccines to contact tracing.COVID-19 vaccines are free. You cannot buy the COVID-19 vaccine anywhere. It’s only available at federal- and state-approved locations. If anyone charges you for help signing up or the shot itself, it’s a scam.Do not post your vaccination card on your social media accounts. Your information could be used for identity theft or to create forged cards for people who have not been vaccinated. If someone asks you for personal information or money to get a national vaccine certificate or passport, it’s a scam.

Key Takeaways

Phone and online scams have been on the rise during the COVID-19 pandemic. The fraud has infiltrated everything from vaccines to contact tracing.COVID-19 vaccines are free. You cannot buy the COVID-19 vaccine anywhere. It’s only available at federal- and state-approved locations. If anyone charges you for help signing up or the shot itself, it’s a scam.Do not post your vaccination card on your social media accounts. Your information could be used for identity theft or to create forged cards for people who have not been vaccinated. If someone asks you for personal information or money to get a national vaccine certificate or passport, it’s a scam.

On August 6, the World Health Organization (WHO)sent out an advisorywarning the public to be wary of fraudulent letters that promised a $1 million pandemic-related lottery prize from the WHO, the International Monetary Fund, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

While troubling, the announcement did not come as a surprise to law enforcement, investigative agencies, and consumer groups in the United States. In fact, the U.S. Justice Department has a webpage dedicated tonews about fraud related to the pandemic.

“The volume of scams has blown up since the beginning of the pandemic,”Kathy Stokes, director of fraud prevention for AARP’sFraud Watch Network,tells Verywell.

Here’s what you need to know about COVID-related scams, including how to spot one and what you can do to protect yourself.

Biden Announces New COVID-19 Vaccination Initiatives and Mandates

Scams on the Rise

The FTC has also issued more than 100 alerts educating consumers and businesses about recognizing and avoiding COVID scams.

Fraud experts say that perpetrators have unleashed all sorts ofscams related to the pandemicincluding:

Should People Be Paid for Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine?

Contact Tracing and Vaccination Card Scams

Some COVID-related scams are going beyond individuals and are threatening public health—for example, calls from bogus contact tracers and offers of forged vaccination cards falsely indicating that someone has been vaccinated.

Fake Contact Tracers

“As COVID-19 cases surge because of the Delta variant, legitimatecontact tracingis increasing which means people have to be aware of these potential scams,”Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH,chief medical officer of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officers, tells Verywell.

Privacy Concerns Continue To Prevent Contact Tracing App Use

Vaccine Cards for Sale

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG)warns people neverto buy a vaccine card, make their own vaccine card, or fill a blank card with false information.

Matthew Charette, a special agent with the OIG’s office, tells Verywell that official COVID-19 vaccine cards have the HHS seal and the CDC’s logo, “making forging and/or using forged cards potential crimes.”

Charette is concerned that that vaccination card scams will proliferate. “Common sense says that as private and public demand that people be vaccinated increases, I’m certain there will continue to be a market for vaccination cards for people who choose not to be vaccinated," Charette says.

Kathy StokesPeople who understand the tactics are 80% less likely to engage with the caller and 40% less likely to lose money or identification if they do.

Kathy Stokes

People who understand the tactics are 80% less likely to engage with the caller and 40% less likely to lose money or identification if they do.

To help reduce forgeries, Charette says that people should not post their legitimate vaccination cards on social media.

Plescia adds that “for now we don’t have verified documentation about COVID vaccination—like a driver’s license or travel passport—and the contentiousness of that remains concerning. If we are going to have a requirement for vaccination, many people will look to government agencies to provide more security for the vaccine card system.”

Lying About Vaccination Status

As the CDC has changed its pandemic safety recommendations for both people who are vaccinated and unvaccinated, Plescia points out that “people who falsely say they have been vaccinated add one more reason for everyone to take precautions such as indoor masking and distancing. We have to retain a continued level of vigilance even if you have been vaccinated.”

Fake COVID-19 Vaccination Cards Are a Safety Threat. Here’s How to Spot Them

Giving people alternatives—such as face masks and testing rather than a vaccine requirement—could reduce the potential for fraud. “Otherwise, we could end up with a false sense of security about coworkers if someone is not being truthful,” says Plescia.

Keep Your Information Safe

According to the HHS OIG, even an offer of vaccination might be a scam.The agency’s website imploresthe public to be wary of who they provide personal, medical, and financial information to, and that they should only obtain vaccines from trusted providers.

Vsafe—the CDC registry tracking side effects and offering second dose reminders—only asks for your email address and type and date of your first COVID-19 vaccine dose. It will not ask for other personal identification or financial information.

Signs of a Scam

Scammers often work hard to make their scams convincing. There are, however, a couple of red flags that you can be on the lookout for.

Stokes advises consumers toread up on scams(for example, on AARP’s Fraud Watch Network site) because “people who understand the tactics are 80% less likely to engage with the caller and 40% less likely to lose money or identification if they do.”

What to Do If You Lose Your COVID-19 Vaccine Card

Protecting Yourself Online

Many scams are conducted over social media in addition to phone calls,according to the FBI. There are several ways you can reduce your risk of becoming a COVID-19 social media scam victim:

Why You Should Not Post Your Vaccine Card Online

Reporting a Scam

“Expect empathetic operators when you call and although it’s unlikely you will get any money back you’ve given to the scammers, your report could keep criminals from preying on someone else,” Stokes says.

What This Mean For You

Scams and fraud have been on the rise during the COVID-19 pandemic, but there are ways to make sure that you do not become a victim.

The best way to protect yourself is to be wary of making your personal and/or financial information readily available to others. For example, do not post your COVID vaccine record card to your social media profiles and hang up on any callers who offer you money or gifts in exchange for participating in a COVID-related survey.

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

What is your feedback?