Courtesy Federal Trade Commission

A Free Public Service

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California.

January 21, 2022

If you have been looking for a COVID-19 test, you probably know that they are in short supply. Unfortunately, scammers love to “help” with shortages. They have created fake and unauthorized at-home testing kits, and they’re still at it with fake COVID-19 testing sites.

These fake sites can be hard to spot. They look real, with legitimate-looking signs, tents, hazmat suits, and realistic-looking tests. The damage these fake testing sites can cause is very real.

Worst of all, they’re not giving people the help they need to stay healthy.

Free Tests:

Certain sites claim to give you ‘free tests’ — but then you’re later billed — and sometimes never receive the test that was promised. Fake sites are taking people’s personal information, including Social Security numbers, credit card information, and other health information — which can be used for identity theft or to run up your credit card bill.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when looking into testing sites:

Get a referral. Go somewhere you have been referred—by your doctor or state or local health department’s website. Do not trust a random testing site you see around town.

Check the source. Did you hear about a new testing site on a neighborhood social media group or email listserv? That “neighbor” could be a scammer. See if the site is also listed on your state or local health department’s website.

Not sure if a site is legit? Check with your local police or sheriff’s office. If a legitimate testing site has been set up, they should know about it. And, if a fake testing site is operating, they want to know about it.

Think you already went to a fake site? If you shared your credit card information, plan to dispute the charge.

Then tell us at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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