AG Raoul warns against COVID vaccine scams
Guard against rogue offers, as shots are only available through designated health clinics
Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike attend a news conference a year ago. (Blue Room Stream)
By Ted Cox
The state attorney general has issued a warning about scams trying to take advantage of people’s eagerness to get the COVID-19 vaccine shot.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued a press release Tuesday urging Illinoisans to ignore rogue vaccine offers online, over the phone, and through text messages.
“People should be wary of anyone who offers the vaccine or promises priority access to the vaccine or a COVID-19 cure in exchange for money,” Raoul said in a statement. “I am urging Illinois residents to be vigilant for scams related to the vaccine, which could compromise their health and personal information. People should report these scams to my office.”
“Currently, there is a limited amount of vaccine in Illinois and in the U.S.,” added Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “Because of the limited amount of vaccine, we want people to be aware of potential scammers who may ask you to pay out of pocket to get the vaccine, who offer to give you early access to the vaccine, or offer to ship you vaccine for payment. Until more vaccine is readily available, we ask people to be patient, understand there may be others in similar risk categories who may get vaccinated first, and continue to wear their mask, watch their distance, and avoid gatherings.”
The Office of the Attorney General emphasized that “the vaccine’s distribution is being overseen by Illinois public health officials, and it is currently available in limited quantities. Residents will be able to receive the vaccine only through a designated health clinic. No one can pay to put their names on a distribution list or purchase early access to the vaccine.”
The news release specifically advised people to not buy any kind of COVID-19 vaccine or treatment on the internet, to ignore offers of the vaccine received online, over the phone, or through text messages, and to hang up on calls that press for a response, especially those seeking Social Security or bank-account numbers. It added that suspicious emails and texts should be deleted, without clicking on any links, and asked that people report any solicitations from telemarketers, text messages, and social-media platforms, as well as door-to-door visits, by filing a consumer complaint with the Attorney General’s Office. Individuals can also call the Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Hotline at (800) 386-5438 (Chicago), (800) 243-0618 (Springfield), or (800) 243-0607 (Carbondale).
The coronavirus has proved to be futile ground for those seeking to take advantage of the pandemic by preying on people’s fears and desperation. Early on in the pandemic, Raoul launched a campaign against those charging high prices for essential goods and Personal Protective Equipment.