COVID-19 Vaccination Scams, South Australia

SA Police are warning the public to be aware of scams using the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccine to target South Australians.

Sergeant Jonathon Newman from the Financial and Cybercrime Investigation Branch said scammers regularly use current events to target people’s fear and empathy.

“The COVID vaccination is free, but scammers will contact people offering them early access to the vaccine or to take part in a clinical trial if they pay them a fee,” Sergeant Newman said.

“Scammers will send emails and text messages purporting to be from legitimate sources. These messages may contain links or attachments that will take the user to a fake website which asks for personal information and / or payment to ensure they receive a vaccine or to participate in a vaccine trial.”

If you are unsure whether a phone call about the COVID vaccine is legitimate, look for these warning signs:

* COVID-19 vaccine advertisements received via social media platforms, emails and telephone calls.

* Requests asking you to pay to put your name on a COVID-19 vaccine waiting list.

* Offers to undergo medical testing or procedures before obtaining a vaccine.

* Offers to sell or ship doses of a vaccine in exchange for payment of a deposit.

* Emails, telephone calls, or personal contact from someone asking you to participate in vaccine trials.

You can protect yourself by:

* Check the spelling of web and email addresses to ensure they are legitimate.

* Do not respond to, or open emails, attachments, or links from unknown sources.

* Be aware that fraudulent emails requesting your personal information may appear to be legitimate, even though they are not.

* Never trust the caller ID as scammers can manipulate this to make phone calls and SMS messages to appear that they originate from legitimate sources, when they are not.

* If in doubt, hang up the phone and call the person or organisation back on a known, reputable number.

Visit www.sahealth.sa.gov.au for up-to-date information about authorised vaccine distribution channels.

To learn how to protect yourself and Know The Scam visit www.police.sa.gov.au/scams

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