SCAM ALERT: Carr and Georgia Department of Public Health Warn of COVID-19 Vaccine Scams

Attorney General Chris Carr and the Georgia Department of Health are again warning Georgians that scammers have been trying to exploit the vaccine rollout by calling, texting or emailing consumers asking for payment for the promise of getting the vaccine, scheduling an appointment or getting on the waiting list.

“Scam artists are attempting to take advantage of people’s sense of urgency about getting the vaccine,” said Attorney General Chris Carr. “Remember that the vaccine is free, and hang up on any caller who asks you for money or personal information related to the vaccine.”

The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division and the Georgia Department of Public Health offer the following tips to avoid falling for a Covid-19 vaccine scam:

• You can’t pay to put your name on a list to get the vaccine. That’s a scam.
• You can’t buy a COVID-19 vaccination through the mail, online, or in stores.
• No one from a legitimate vaccine distribution site or insurance company will call to ask for your Social Security number, bank account, or credit card number. That’s a scam.
• The Department of Health will not call to verify your Social Security number or Medicare, Medicaid or insurance ID over the phone.
• Medicare will not call beneficiaries to offer COVID-19 related products, services, or benefit review.

All Georgians aged 16 and older are eligible for COVID vaccination. To find a vaccination location or to schedule an appointment, log on to dph.ga.gov/covid-vaccine or visit myvaccinegeorgia.com to schedule an appointment at a GEMA mass vaccination site. Vaccines are also available at pharmacies throughout the state and can be found using VaccineFinder.org.

Because of high demand for vaccines, sites are booking up quickly. Georgians are urged to be patient and try again another day if no appointments are immediately available.

Attorney General Chris Carr, Governor Brian Kemp, Wal-Mart, Pfizer, UPS, the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency and the Georgia Department of Public Health will be hosting a webinar on COVID-19 vaccination administration and consumer protection on Tuesday, April 6 at 1:00pm. For more information and to register, click here.