Several officials in the Garden State want people to beware of potential COVID-19 vaccine scams.
Assistant Camden County Prosecutor David Deitz says his office is concerned about residents falling victim to potential scams.
"There are people out there who are going to take advantage of you and try to prey upon your eagerness to get the vaccine by soliciting you for money, credit card information and other personal identifying information in people's most vulnerable times," Deitz says.
According to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office, scams already being recorded nationally include payment schemes to allegedly boost a person's place in line for the vaccine, telemarketer calls and identity theft.
"People you shouldn't trust are unsolicited text messages, unsolicited emails, unsolicited phone calls and people coming to your door asking you if you would like to obtain the vaccine," Deitz says.
On Monday, New York Attorney General Letitia James issued an alert to warn New Yorkers about possible coronavirus vaccine scams saying in part, "We must remain vigilant about potential scams… Throughout this pandemic, scammers have found ways to victimize the public, with the vaccine distribution process being their latest method for fraud."
Deitz says one’s primary care physician and county health department are trusted resources for reliable information about the vaccine rollout. For any one that suspects they’ve been scammed, Deitz asks that they report it to authorities.
"We would like that to be reported to law enforcement so that we kind of have an idea at the county prosecutor's level, what's happening with these scams, what is their method of operation," Deitz says.
Deitz says that will help them to be able to provide more information to the public about how these scams are taking place.