Bogus COVID-19 Tests and Pharmacy Offers Targeting Your Social Security Number

As the race for effective treatments and vaccines for COVID-19 intensifies, scammers continue to prey on our hopes and fears in their attempts to steal insurance information, money or both.

One of the latest bogus offers is for fraudulent and unapproved COVID-19 antibodies tests. The FBI warns that many of the callers offering antibodies tests are asking for personal information, such as Social Security numbers, Medicare or private health insurance information that can result in identity theft and be used in future scams.

Consumers should also be on guard for scam calls from fake pharmacies offering "pre-approved" medications or supplies to consumers. The scam caller claims the costs are covered by insurance, but they need additional information to process the shipment. In addition to asking for insurance details, they will request the contact information for your primary care physician. They then use this information to charge your insurance provider for unnecessary medications or medical equipment supplies that you never receive.

These scammers may even pretend to represent legitimate insurance companies, as the chief operating officer of Independent Health, a Buffalo, New York-based insurance company, learned when he got a call that purported to be from his own company, according to WBFO, Buffalo’s NPR station.

If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from your insurance company, hang up and call the number on the back of your medical insurance or prescription card to confirm whether the call is legitimate.

Tips to Avoid Being Scammed

The FCC offers the following tips to help you protect yourself from robocall and text scams, including coronavirus scams:

Always be wary of any unsolicited offers that require you to provide your insurance or doctor’s information.
Do not respond to calls or texts from unknown numbers, or any others that appear suspicious.
Never share your personal or financial information via email, text messages, or over the phone.
Be cautious if you’re being pressured to share any information or make a payment immediately.
Scammers often spoof phone numbers to trick you into answering.
Do not click any links in a text message from an unknown sender.
For more information about coronavirus scams, visit fcc.gov/covid-scams.

Notify the Authorities

If you believe you have been the victim of a COVID-19 scam, immediately report it to the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at (866) 720-5721. You can also file a complaint with the Department of Justice (justice.gov/disastercomplaintform), or contact the FBI (ic3.gov, tips.fbi.gov, or 1-800-CALL-FBI). COVID medical scams can also be reported to the Food and Drug Administration (en español).

For coronavirus robocall and text scams, file a consumer complaint with the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints.

Consumer Information on COVID-19 Consumer Scams

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the United States, the FCC has learned of scam text-message campaigns and robocalls that prey on virus-related fears.

COVID-19 text scams may falsely advertise a cure or offer bogus tests. Learn more and see examples of scam texts.
Robocall scams have focused on health and financial concerns connected to COVID-19. Learn more and listen to actual scam audio.
As online shopping increases, so do delivery notification scam calls and texts. Find out what to watch out for.
Bad actors are trying steal insurance information, money or both. Get tips to avoid offers for bogus COVID-19 antibodies tests or pharmacy scams.
Contact tracing scams are on the rise. Find out more about contact tracing and how to protect yourself.
Coronavirus scammers are targeting older Americans. Get information to share with seniors and their families.
Peer-to-peer (P2P) mobile payment apps help consumers avoid contact with vendors, but missteps in P2P app use can be costly. Find out what you can do to avoid being scammed.

Tips for Avoiding COVID-19 Scams

Do not respond to calls or texts from unknown numbers, or any others that appear suspicious.
Never share your personal or financial information via email, text messages, or over the phone.
Be cautious if you're being pressured to share any information or make a payment immediately.
Scammers often spoof phone numbers to trick you into answering or responding. Remember that government agencies will never call you to ask for personal information or money.
Do not click any links in a text message. If a friend sends you a text with a suspicious link that seems out of character, call them to make sure they weren't hacked.
Always check on a charity (for example, by calling or looking at its actual website) before donating. (Learn more about charity scams.)

If you think you've been a victim of a coronavirus scam, contact law enforcement immediately.

For more information about scam calls and texts, visit the FCC Consumer Help Center and the FCC Scam Glossary. You can also file a complaint about such scams at fcc.gov/complaints.

The FCC has continued to process informal consumer complaints throughout the pandemic. View data, by category, for informal consumer complaints related to COVID-19 and the Keep Americans Connected Pledge. Learn more about the FCC response to the pandemic at fcc.gov/coronavirus.