Fake Tests and Phony Cures - COVID-19 Scams Another Pandemic Side Effect

The global pandemic has meant easy money for a lot of scammers, who are taking advantage of the fears of people trying to survive the pandemic. First, there were scams involving fake test kits and phony cures, nonexistent cleaning supplies and bogus stimulus grants.

More recently, fraudsters have taken advantage of the fact that COVID-19 vaccine appointments were hard to find, so they were offering opportunities to “skip the line” and get an appointment in exchange for cash.

In 2020, Florida saw a 120 percent increase in consumer fraud losses, some $100 million, ranking the state among the top in the nation.

The AARP Fraud Watch Network has information and resources to help protect you and your family from such scammers. You can sign up for free alerts, call the free help line at 877 – 908 – 3360 if you suspect a scam, and even look at our scam-tracking map to see what fraudsters have been up to in your area.

AARP staff and volunteers also are working hard in your community to protect you and your family, hosting a variety of programs and workshops on fraud and other topics, including a tele-town hall on COVID-19 scams with Florida officials.

Tips from local, state and federal officials on avoiding COVID-19 scammers include:

• Be wary of inbound calls or texts that ask for personal information, including your Social Security number, bank account information and medical details.
  
• Don't post a photo of your vaccine card on social media. Those cards include your name, date of birth, patient number and other information that bad actors can use to steal your identity.
  
• Turn down pitches for quack COVID-19 cures and treatments. The FTC has been sending warning letters to companies making false claims about products that prevent or combat the virus.
  

Scammers are regularly evolving their techniques to defraud you, so be wary of anything unsolicited and always independently verify an offer or request.
To find more reliable and useful information about the pandemic’s impact on Florida and vaccines, visit AARP Florida’s COVID-19 web site, check the state’s COVID-19 vaccine website or visit your county health department to determine where you can get a vaccine. You can pre-register to get a vaccine through MyVaccine.fl.gov.