OHIO — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is warning Ohioans not to fall for COVID-19 vaccine-related scams. 

Now that the first shipment of vaccines have arrived and are being distributed, Yost said it's possible scammers will contact consumers and impersonate health officials or providers. The scammers will ask for personal information, such as a social security number, claiming that they'll need it for vaccine qualifications.

Yost said it's possible they'll also ask for a security deposit to claim a spot on a waitlist for the vaccine. 

The scams are similar to what occurred in March when the pandemic began. Scammers called, texted and emailed Ohioans attempting to steal identities or funds, according to data from Yost's Constituent Services Section.

To help prevent potential identify theft, Yost recommended these precautions through a press release:

  • Verify any vaccine-related information with legitimate news reports. Double-check any new “too-good-to-be-true” news or claims. You may wish to consider contacting your family doctor, your local health department or the statewide Ohio Department of Health’s COVID-19 call center (1-833-427-5634) to check on issues you are unsure about.
  • Look for some of the red flags of a scam, such as being asked to wire money or send a prepaid money card or gift card to a stranger; being pressured to act immediately; or being told to buy a product or service where the company refuses to provide any information in writing. Also look out if you’re asked to keep conversations a secret.
  • You likely will not need to pay anything out of pocket to get the vaccine during this public health emergency. You can’t pay to put your name on a list to get the vaccine. You can’t pay to get early access to the vaccine.
  • No one from a vaccine distribution site or health care payer, like a private insurance company, will call you asking for your Social Security number or your credit card or bank account information to sign you up to get the vaccine.

So far, Yost's office has received 39 coronavirus-related complaints about scams. 

If someone believes they're facing an unfair business practice like these scams, they can call the Ohio Attorney General's Office online or by calling 800-282-0515.

“A single dose of information can vaccinate you against fraud,” Yost said.