<div dir="auto"><div>FYI...I received this today from the District Government<br><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">DISB Communications</strong> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:disb.communications@subscriptions.dc.gov">disb.communications@subscriptions.dc.gov</a>></span><br>Date: Thu, Dec 24, 2020, 10:30 AM<br>Subject: DISB Consumer Alert: Beware of COVID-19 Vaccine Scams<br><br></div><br><br><u></u>
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<h1 style="font-size:20px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin:0 0 5px;padding:0">Beware of COVID-19 Vaccine Scams</h1>
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<p style="margin-bottom:1.0em;color:#000000;font:19px/1.5 calibri,candara,segoe,optima,arial,sans-serif">Fraudsters have launched a new scam by taking advantage of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine news. They are attempting to defraud their victims by stealing their money and their sensitive, personal information.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:1.0em;color:#000000;font:19px/1.5 calibri,candara,segoe,optima,arial,sans-serif">On December 21, 2020, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a press release warning consumers to be on the alert for several emerging fraud schemes related to COVID-19 vaccines. According to federal law enforcement, scammers have been using telemarketing calls, text messages, social media platforms and door-to-door visits to perpetrate COVID-19-related scams. The FBI warns consumers to be on the lookout for the following scam activities:</p>
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<li style="color:#000000;font-family:calibri,candara,segoe,optima,arial,sans-serif;font-size:19px">Advertisements or offers for early access to a vaccine upon payment of a deposit or fee.</li>
<li style="color:#000000;font-family:calibri,candara,segoe,optima,arial,sans-serif;font-size:19px">Requests asking you to pay out of pocket to obtain the vaccine or to put your name on a COVID-19 vaccine waiting list.</li>
<li style="color:#000000;font-family:calibri,candara,segoe,optima,arial,sans-serif;font-size:19px">Offers to undergo additional medical testing or procedures when obtaining a vaccine.</li>
<li style="color:#000000;font-family:calibri,candara,segoe,optima,arial,sans-serif;font-size:19px">Marketers offering to sell and/or ship doses of a vaccine, domestically or internationally, in exchange for payment of a deposit or fee.</li>
<li style="color:#000000;font-family:calibri,candara,segoe,optima,arial,sans-serif;font-size:19px">Unsolicited emails, telephone calls, or personal contact from someone claiming to be from a medical office, insurance company, or COVID-19 vaccine center requesting personal and/or medical information to determine recipients’ eligibility to participate in clinical vaccine trials or obtain the vaccine.</li>
<li style="color:#000000;font-family:calibri,candara,segoe,optima,arial,sans-serif;font-size:19px">Claims of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for a vaccine that cannot be verified.</li>
<li style="color:#000000;font-family:calibri,candara,segoe,optima,arial,sans-serif;font-size:19px">Advertisements for vaccines through social media platforms, email, telephone calls, online, or from unsolicited/unknown sources.</li>
<li style="color:#000000;font-family:calibri,candara,segoe,optima,arial,sans-serif;font-size:19px">Individuals contacting you in person, by phone, or by email to tell you the government or government officials require you to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.</li>
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<p style="margin-bottom:1.0em;color:#000000;font:19px/1.5 calibri,candara,segoe,optima,arial,sans-serif">Here are tips to avoid becoming a victim of COVID vaccine fraud:</p>
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<li style="color:#000000;font-family:calibri,candara,segoe,optima,arial,sans-serif;font-size:19px">Consult the District’s <a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDEyMjQuMzI0ODgwNzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLmRjLmdvdi9yZWdpc3RlciJ9.G5DWwvSZYhDFiIIupyhHr3cgNn5Fm5vNotqAm-eJ5gs/s/737437960/br/92391851497-l" style="color:#1d5782" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">coronavirus.dc.gov</a> website for up-to-date information about authorized vaccine distribution channels and only obtain a vaccine through such channels.</li>
<li style="color:#000000;font-family:calibri,candara,segoe,optima,arial,sans-serif;font-size:19px">Check the FDA’s website (<a href="http://fda.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">fda.gov</a>) for current information about vaccine emergency use authorizations.</li>
<li style="color:#000000;font-family:calibri,candara,segoe,optima,arial,sans-serif;font-size:19px">Consult your primary care physician before undergoing any vaccination.</li>
<li style="color:#000000;font-family:calibri,candara,segoe,optima,arial,sans-serif;font-size:19px">Don’t share your personal or health information with anyone other than known and trusted medical professionals.</li>
<li style="color:#000000;font-family:calibri,candara,segoe,optima,arial,sans-serif;font-size:19px">Check your medical bills and insurance explanation of benefits (EOBs) for suspicious claims and promptly report errors to your health insurance provider.</li>
<li style="color:#000000;font-family:calibri,candara,segoe,optima,arial,sans-serif;font-size:19px">Follow guidance and recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), DC Health, and other trusted medical professionals.</li>
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<p style="margin-bottom:1.0em;color:#000000;font:19px/1.5 calibri,candara,segoe,optima,arial,sans-serif">Be suspicious of any unexpected phone calls, emails, text messages, advertisements, or home visitors offering COVID-19 tests, supplies or cures. If you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately. Do not respond to unsolicited texts or emails regarding COVID-19 vaccines or click on COVID-19 vaccine related links appearing in unsolicited emails or text messages.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:1.0em;color:#000000;font:19px/1.5 calibri,candara,segoe,optima,arial,sans-serif">If you believe you have been the victim of a COVID-19 fraud, immediately report it to the FBI (<a href="http://ic3.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">ic3.gov</a>, <a href="http://tips.fbi.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">tips.fbi.gov</a>, or 1-800-CALL-FBI) or HHS OIG (<a href="http://tips.hhs.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">tips.hhs.gov</a> or 1-800-HHS-TIPS). You may also contact Office of Consumer Protection in the DC Office of the Attorney General at <a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDEyMjQuMzI0ODgwNzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL29hZy5kYy5nb3YvY29uc3VtZXItcHJvdGVjdGlvbiJ9.GRvqx2KJNlqUlzSK_fRsL0GKNQX039VCSkXeJ32dPfE/s/737437960/br/92391851497-l" style="color:#1d5782" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">oag.dc.gov/consumer-protection</a> and the DISB Enforcement and Consumer Protection Division at 202-727-8000.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:1.0em;color:#000000;font:19px/1.5 calibri,candara,segoe,optima,arial,sans-serif"><strong>DISB Mission<br></strong>Our mission is three-fold: (1) cultivate a regulatory environment that protects consumers and attracts and retains financial services firms to the District; (2) empower and educate residents on financial matters; and (3) provide financing for District small businesses.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:1.0em;color:#000000;font:19px/1.5 calibri,candara,segoe,optima,arial,sans-serif"><strong>Social Media</strong><br>DISB Twitter: <a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDEyMjQuMzI0ODgwNzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3R3aXR0ZXIuY29tL2RjZGlzYj9sYW5nPWVuIn0.XMZnBUOpt16AppicsYkJyMlQF07vh8IDcZp3vifU_1Y/s/737437960/br/92391851497-l" style="color:#1d5782" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">@DCDISB</a><br>DISB Facebook: <a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDEyMjQuMzI0ODgwNzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5mYWNlYm9vay5jb20vRElTQkRDLyJ9.4E4teXtX0Rr2YXFedoHhhyLCXtxeKqlyngssiSrBvsY/s/737437960/br/92391851497-l" style="color:#1d5782" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">facebook.com/DISBDC</a><br>DISB YouTube: <a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDEyMjQuMzI0ODgwNzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy55b3V0dWJlLmNvbS91c2VyL0RDRElTQiJ9.dJ-sP9J2eAFk31D5k-hdc5roGZvjI0rZB35NATvbcgU/s/737437960/br/92391851497-l" style="color:#1d5782" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">youtube.com/user/DCDISB</a><br>DISB Website: <a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDEyMjQuMzI0ODgwNzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3LmRpc2IuZGMuZ292In0.NX1vC1fdLy6_ZciCotIawYKW6_yG_B5VeLqEqKLXM3k/s/737437960/br/92391851497-l" style="color:#1d5782" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">disb.dc.gov</a></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:1.0em;color:#000000;font:19px/1.5 calibri,candara,segoe,optima,arial,sans-serif"><strong>District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking </strong><br>Office of Communications <br>1050 First Street NE, Suite 801, Washington, DC 20002 </p>
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