COVID-19 Scams To Be Aware Of In St. Pete: Police

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — As COVID-19 vaccines recently rolled out to the senior population in St. Petersburg, scammers are coming up with more ways to trick you into giving money and personal information in "exchange" for tests and vaccines.

St. Petersburg police and the U.S. Department of Health and Humans Services have provide tips below to help you stay alert for these scams.

According to the St. Pete Police Department:

• COVID-19 Tests or Supplies. Be suspicious of any unexpected calls or visitors offering COVID-19 tests or supplies. If you receive a suspicious call, hang up.
• Contract Tracers. Be aware of scammers pretending to be COVID-10 contract racers. Legitimate contact tracers do not contact you via email or text, and will never ask for your Medicare number, financial information, or attempt to set up a COVID-19 test for you and collect payment information.
• HHS Grants. Do not give your personal or financial information to anyone claiming to offer Health and Human Services (HHS) grants related to COVID-19.
• Research Before You Donate. Research any charities soliciting donations tied to COVID-19 before making a donation. An organization may not legitimate even if it uses words like "CDC" or "government" in its name.
• Phone Calls With a Government Caller ID. Scammers often spoof phone numbers to trick you into answering or responding. Government agencies will never call you to ask for personal information or money.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

• Personal information collected can be used to fraudulently bill federal health care programs and commit medical identity theft.
• You will not be asked for money to enhance your ranking for vaccine eligibility. Government and state officials will not call you to obtain personal information in order to receive the vaccine, and you will not be solicited door to door to receive the vaccine.

For more information about COVID-19 scams, click here.