2/23/21 – COVID-19 vaccine appointment phone scam

(Mlive) – Someone is trying to use the COVID-19 vaccine to try and scam unsuspecting people on the phone. The scam is related to vaccine appointments.

Specifically in Oakland County, they are sending out a warning to anyone who may receive a phone like this. The caller first asks people questions in order to schedule a vaccine appointment. The caller then asks for personal and financial information, something that would never be asked of you to give to health officials.

“Oakland County will never ask for any financial information including credit card or social security numbers,” said Leigh-Anne Stafford, health officer for Oakland County. “If you are unsure if it is a scam, avoid sharing any personal information over the phone, and report it to the authorities.”

If you receive a call like this and think it’s a scam or think you may have become a victim, you can report it by calling the non emergency phone number of your local police department.

Here is a list of COVID-19 vaccine locations throughout Michigan. The Michigan COVID hotline number is: 888-535-6136.

Some tips to avoid being scammed include:

• Making a list of contact information for family members, close friends, health providers or anyone who might call regularly. This will help you know if the call is legitimate.
• Letting a call go to voicemail if you don’t recognize a phone number. Scammers rarely leave messages.
• Hanging up if a stranger asks for personal or financial information. It is OK to hang up.
• Remembering that government agencies will always identify themselves.
• Not sharing any personal information such as your social security number to anyone over the telephone.