COVID-19 Health Scams | Health2Conf

COVID-19 Health Scams A Review Of This Emerging Trend

The Emergence Of COVID-19 Scams ● From miracle remedies, claims of compensation, to sheer blackmail, many scammers are trying to make the most of the COVID-19 scare to make quick money. ● When cases had spiked in 2020, there was an overwhelming surge of scams fake schemes, and fraud around COVID-19. While we are slowly moving into a post-pandemic era, this trend still continues and is an example of how medical crises can be leveraged by scamsters. ● The first step to ensuring safety is awareness that such scams and fraudulent activities exist. This presentation will review and cover the most common ones.

Vaccine Scams Here, the scammer will spam you with phishing emails that ask you to register for your COVID-19 vaccine shot. They request a small fee for the same and usually claim that if you do not sign up now, you may not get a slot at all.

Of course, after you register, they go silent! That’s why make sure that you do not trust spammers and instead visit the websites of official health organizations for information related to the COVID-19 vaccine shot.

COVID-19 Compensation COVID-19 affected millions of businesses and led to tremendous financial losses.

Given the crisis, governments around the world geared up to ensure that people’s basic needs were met. Many schemes and compensation plans were announced to help businesses stay afloat as well as for those who had lost their jobs during the pandemic.

Fraudsters jumped at the sight of this opportunity. Their modus operandi: sending in spam emails that people are eligible to receive compensation after they fill in a form (which captures the victim’s personal information and bank details). After this, they may siphon away funds from your account.

Remember that government officials do not get in touch through such unofficial means. If you do receive an email, contact the concerned authorities to verify it.

Businesses Selling COVID-19 Remedies It is important to know that natural remedies will not be effective at keeping COVID-19 at bay. Of course, businesses may claim that their natural products may help to strengthen your immune system against virus and bacteria, however, they cannot claim to have remedies against COVID-19.

We have seen a huge jump in the number of spam emails that advertise COVID-19 cures. As reviewed by health safety professionals and healthcare practitioners, these fake products can do a lot more harm than good. Therefore, make sure that you get your health-related information and remedies only from verified sources and healthcare providers.

How To Steer Clear Of COVID-19 Scams & Fraud ● Getting too many offers that claim you can get the COVID-19 vaccine faster if you pay money? Avoid these spam emails at all costs! ● Be wary of spam emails that advertise free testing. These are mostly fake! As reviewed by health professionals, one must scan the FDA website for testing centers and companies before going forward. ● Got an email that claims you need to send in your personal information such as Social Security Number and insurance details to be compensated for your losses? Don’t click on its links or attachments as these could contain malware.

THANK YOU! Presented by: Shivani Verma Manager, Health 2.0 Conference

https://www.health2conf.com/