HONOLULU — There has been an alarming increase in various types of COVID-19 scams across the nation, and kupuna and other Hawai‘i residents are not exempt from being targeted as potential victims.
The state Department of Health, in collaboration with the state Office of the Attorney General, Executive Office on Aging’s Senior Medicare Patrol Hawai‘i and state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, is alerting Hawai‘i residents about new COVID-19 vaccination scams.
Scammers usually send phone and text messages demanding individuals to call back to receive a COVID-19 vaccination in exchange for money. Callers may falsely claim the vaccine will be available only for three months for $1,000, a limited time to create a false sense of urgency, as in a recent case involving a call from Jamaica to a Hawai‘i resident.
“All COVID-19 vaccinations are free. At no time should anyone pay for the vaccine,” said Dr. Elizabeth Char, DOH director. “Everyone, including kupuna, will eventually have an opportunity to receive their vaccine.”
“As scammers accelerate their work to victimize individuals with seemingly legitimate offers, we’re urging residents to remain vigilant,” added Norma Kop, director of SMP Hawai‘i, which assist beneficiaries, their families and caregivers to prevent, detect and report health-care fraud, errors and abuse.
“We encourage residents to refrain from responding to communication from an unknown number, email or unfamiliar location, to protect themselves from bogus COVID-19 vaccine offers, especially those asking to verify one’s personal information, such as Medicare or Medicaid numbers, to receive health-care benefits.”
SMP Hawai‘i offers these tips:
• No one can pay to “jump ahead of the line” and receive earlier access to a vaccination;
• No one who calls from the DOH or its trusted partners concerning the COVID-19 vaccination will ask you for a Social Security, bank-account or credit-card number or related personal information;
• Legitimate authorities do not ask for payment in exchange for the vaccine. Just hang up.
Hawai‘i residents should always safeguard their personal information, health-care-related numbers, financial information and related identifiers.
To voice a concern or to file a complaint, contact SMP Hawai‘i at info@smphawaii.org or 808-586-7281. Neighbor island residents may call toll free 1-800-296-9422. To learn more about ways to prevent, detect and report health-care fraud, errors and abuse, or to volunteer, visit smphawaii.org.
What about the DOH, “science” misleading the public? This is a medical call and vaccines made in haste, makes waste!