How do scammers use the “vaccine” method?
Attempts at vaccine-related fraud have been reported across the country. Police:
Scammers modify the familiar “grandchild” fraud method by posing as healthcare workers or family members, thereby extorting substantial sums of money. By misleading them, they try to cause older people to make unfavorable decisions regarding their property.
The criminals claim that an urgent payment is needed for the treatment of a loved one who has been hospitalized. After the cash is handed over, it turns out that the relative was not infected with the coronavirus and that unknown perpetrators took the money.
Despite numerous appeals from police officers and preventive campaigns aimed at warning people about scammers, older people still sometimes hand over their savings to criminals. We remind you that reliable information about the vaccination campaign can be found at www.gov.pl/web/szczepimysie.
How can you avoid being scammed?
Officers:
REMEMBER!
- If a senior has not requested vaccination at home or assistance with transportation to a vaccination site, but receives a call offering this, then we warn you—this is a scam.
- Be especially cautious when dealing with strangers who may claim to be, for example, a police officer, doctor, soldier or grandchild.
- Remember that the Police will never ask you to withdraw money from a bank, hand it over to unknown people or leave it in a specified place.
- Do not purchase vaccines or pharmaceutical products on your own.
- UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES HAND OVER ANY MONEY!—contact your family first and confirm whether they need financial assistance!
And they add:
In the event of an attempt to extort money, receiving an “offer” of paid transportation to a vaccination appointment, or a proposal for sanitary services to visit a patient at home, immediately call the police at the emergency number 112.