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DOJ Warns Of COVID Vaccine Survey Scam

Image by Robinraj Premchand from Pixabay

As New York and Connecticut open up COVID-19 shots to everyone ages 16 and up, the Department of Justice wants residents to avoid clicking on links that claim to be a vaccine survey. The fraudulent surveys are used to steal money and personal data.

The DOJ warns links to scam vaccine surveys have been sent to consumers via email and text from official-looking accounts.

They promise cash or a prize at the end, but ask for credit card data to cover a so-called shipping fee. People tricked into participating get charged the fee, give up their personal data, and never receive the cash or prize.

Anyone who gets a message claiming to be a COVID-19 vaccine survey should report it to the National Center for Disaster Fraud. Reports can be made at 866-720-5721 or www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud.

Cassandra Basler, a former senior editor at WSHU, came to the station by way of Columbia Journalism School in New York City. When she's not reporting on wealth and poverty, she's writing about food and family.