There is a light at the end of the tunnel with the coronavirus since the vaccines are becoming more available for Americans, especially for people over the age of seventy. It has been said that people are being called if they are eligible for the vaccine. With people waiting patiently by their phones, it is likely they will answer any phone call. People’s guards may be down and could become victims of being scammed if they aren’t careful.
How to know if your phone call is a scam
Although scammers are very good at what they do, there are ways to tell if you’re being scammed.
- If the person on the other end of the line is asking you to put a down payment via your debit or credit card, HANG UP. Vaccines are free, so there is no reason they would need your card information.
- If the person is asking for your social security number, HANG UP. Nobody needs your social security number, especially over the phone. If the hospital was actually contacting you, they wouldn’t need your social security number because they already have it.
- If the person is asking you personal information, such as your residential address or your place of employment, HANG UP. This type of information is irrelevant when receiving a vaccine. If the hospital was truly calling you, they would not be asking your personal questions as they should already know the answer.
The person on the other end of the line should only be verifying answers with you, such as verifying your address, your last four digits of your social security number, and recent medical history.
If at all during the phone call you are uncomfortable, HANG UP. Trust your gut if you believe you are being scammed. You could always call the hospital you believe would be contacting you and ask if they were calling you about the COVID-19 vaccine.
We have all been victims of scams at some point in our lives. Especially as scammers become even better at their jobs, we are more prone to being scammed.
Be vigilant- stay safe!
