Inquiries received by Consumer Hotline on COVID-19 Vaccine Fraud (3): Risky to easily respond to message related to COVID-19 vaccination!

In order to provide consultation for consumers who have faced trouble with fraud or fraudulent sales capitalizing on COVID-19 vaccination, NCAC established the Consumer Hotline on COVID-19 Vaccine Fraud on February 15, 2021.

The Consumer Hotline on COVID-19 Vaccine Fraud has received inquiries and complaints about vaccine fraud (e.g. phone call from someone pretending to be a municipal or public official, suspicious SMS related to vaccine registration). After making an appointment for COVID-19 vaccination, some consumers tend to think messages from a self-claimed municipal official are about COVID-19 vaccination and respond to an unexpected phone call or visitor. In order to prevent consumers from suffering damage, NCAC would like to share some trouble cases and advice for consumers.

Cases suspicious of vaccine fraud

• I received a suspicious phone call asking details of reservation at a large-scale vaccination venue.
• I received an SMS saying "accepting vaccine registration".
• I made an appointment for vaccination online, but I am worried that I might have accessed a fake website.

Advice for consumers

Care should be taken when receiving a phone call or SMS related to COVID-19 vaccination.

In case of an unexpected phone call or visit from a self-claimed public official, check contact information on an official website or PR magazine of the public body concerned to make an inquiry about the matter.

Furthermore, URLs written on an SMS from an unknown number may lead to a fraudulent website. Never tap or click such links.

The COVID-19 vaccination is free of charge. Neither national nor municipal administrative bodies demand money and personal information for COVID-19 vaccination via telephone, email, etc.