A VACCINE AGAINST SCAMMERS

They’re at it again! Scammers always come up with new methods to hurt innocent people. There’s a new scam out there, and it’s targeting people through emails and texts. The scammers send an email or text message asking people to take a survey about the COVID vaccine and promise a free gift in return. The scammers use the vaccine company logos such as Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Pfizer to trick their victims into believing the survey is real. The trick is they say the shipping and handling need to be paid for in order to get the free gift. They then ask for credit card information, name and an address. They now have all of the information they need to steal money and a person’s identity.

Here are some tips to avoid getting ripped off by these crooks:

• Never click on links or open attachments from unknown sources, even if it looks professional.

• Don’t give your personal information, bank account, or credit/debit card number to anyone who randomly calls, texts or emails you.

• Legitimate companies do not pay in gift cards or require payment in gift cards.

• Beware of caller-IDs. Scammers can create fake numbers to fool their victims into thinking they are with a legitimate company.

For many people who only have general knowledge of computers, something as simple as clicking a link can turn into a nightmare. One click can download malware to a computer that will operate in the background and steal the victim’s personal information. Always be alert and keep your information safe.

As always, if you suspect you are being scammed or have been the victim of fraud, call your local law enforcement or go to https://reportfraudftc.gov to report an incident.