Many new scams appeared this year surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. These included fraudulent COVID-19 tests, vaccines and/or treatment options, work-from-home schemes, phishing emails requesting personal and financial information in order to receive a stimulus check or other financial relief offer and more.
As we move closer to having an FDA-approved vaccine for COVID-19, Police encourage you to be on the lookout for vaccine related scams. These scams may come in various formats, but here are some scam warning signs:
- You receive a telephone call, text message, email or computer pop-up that you did not solicit
- The solicitor requests unusual payment terms (for example, prepaid debit or gift cards or electronic wiring of funds)
- The solicitor requests your bank account information, social security number or other personal information or credit card number
- The solicitor instills a sense of urgency
Police also encourage you to talk to your friends and family members about these potential scams.
It is imperative for everyone to remain vigilant. This is a trying time for all of us, and unfortunately, this creates many opportunities for scammers to take advantage of folks.
For more information about COVID related scams, please visit our website.
Media Contact:
Stephanie Williams, Police Spokesperson
Stephanie.williams@jamescitycountyva.gov; 757-592-5618