Olde Hornet
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First came news of a vaccine. Now come the scams. | CNN
The newly-approved Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is slowly making its way across the US. But those eagerly waiting their turn need to beware of dangerous scams and misinformation about the vaccine's distribution.
www.cnn.com
Several government organizations have warned against scammers promising access to the vaccine in exchange for sensitive personal information, as well as companies selling bogus treatments promising to cure or prevent Covid-19.
"The FBI has received complaints of scammers using the public's interest in COVID-19 vaccines to obtain personally identifiable information and monies through various schemes," the FBI wrote in a statement to CNN.
The bureau told CNN it plans to remain vigilant as "scammers continue to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic for personal gain."
Meanwhile, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is working to stop the sale of unapproved Covid-19 drugs, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued warning letters to seven companies selling products with "scientifically unsupported claims" to cure those infected.
"Selling fake vaccines and other treatments is likely only one of many ways scammers will try to cash in on the vaccine release," the Better Business Bureau warned in a news release. "Watch out for phishing messages attempting to trick you into sharing your passwords and personal information."