COVID-19 vaccine scams

The COVID-19 vaccine is becoming available, and the grand demand is triggering different criminal activities. For example, circulation of falsified vaccines on illicit markets or their introduction into the legal market, trafficking of fake or substandard vaccines that have fallen out of the cold chain, and the theft of cargo and even medical waste such as empty vials.

James Brokenshire, security minister in England, said:

“It’s a sad reality that scammers and fraudsters are using the pandemic to fleece innocent people out of their hard-earned cash. If you receive an email, text message or phone call claiming to be from the NHS (National Health Security) and you are asked to provide financial details, or pay for the vaccine, this is a scam.”

Yes, it's true, fraudsters are sending out bogus text messages about the coronavirus vaccine in an attempt to steal bank details.

The scam tells recipients they are "eligible to apply for your vaccine" with a link to a bogus NHS website. That, in turn, asks for personal information and - crucially - bank details "for verification".

The vaccine brings great hope for an end to the pandemic and lockdowns, but some only wish to create even further misery by defrauding others, so be careful and don't let someone trick you.

• Know that anyone asking for money in exchange for an appointment is a scam;
• Check with county health departments for local vaccine distribution guidelines;
• Be wary of any website where pop-up ads solicit a vaccine appointment;
• Look for “https” or a padlock icon in the website name to ensure that you are on a secure website.

Posted by: 0197409035 Natsibulina Valeriia for the final project of the course Global Governance and International Organizations