Better Business Bureau Issues Warning About Rise In COVID Testing Scams, Potential Free At-Home Test Kit Scams

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — The Higher Enterprise Bureau is warning a couple of rise in COVID testing scams with New Yorkers who declare they gave up private info to get examined however by no means noticed the outcomes.

Stella Deng went to get a COVID check at Elmhurst Hospital on Dec. 31.

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“However they closed early, so I made a decision to do one of many vans that have been parked throughout the road,” she informed CBS2’s Ali Bauman.

She obtained in line on the van, which marketed it was with Deshi Senior Middle and promised leads to two days.

They handed Deng a type to fill out, asking for her identify, handle, insurance coverage info and ID.

“They took an image of our ID,” Deng mentioned. “So as a result of it was in proximity to the hospital, I assumed it might’ve been, , a reliable place.”

However the days handed and Deng by no means obtained her outcomes.

“They by no means responded to my textual content after I reached out to them and they didn’t reply their telephone name, and we, to this present day, haven’t gotten our outcomes again,” she mentioned.

She’s not alone. There are dozens of Google opinions for the Deshi Senior Middle van detailing comparable experiences.

One says, “Both they misplaced the checks, misplaced the outcomes or scammed me for my information. One other particular person mentioned he by no means obtained outcomes however did get billed by his insurance coverage the exact same day.

“That was type of the peak of when the traces have been lengthy and folks have been determined for checks,” Bauman mentioned.

“Sure, precisely,” Deng mentioned. “It simply looks as if lots of people that week could have unknowingly given up loads of their info and by no means obtained their outcomes again.”

COVID VACCINE

CBS2 has not discovered proof that anyone’s private info was compromised, however the BBB is monitoring the complaints towards Deshi. The BBB says it’s best to by no means have at hand over your private info for a free COVID check.

“If there’s a pop-up web site that’s asking you for info that they don’t want, there’s a superb wager that they’re making an attempt to piece collectively an identification for identification theft,” mentioned Claire Rosenzweig, president and CEO of the BBB Metro NY.

The van hasn’t been again outdoors Elmhurst Hospital shortly, so Bauman went to Deshi Senior Middle in Ozone Park and spoke to licensed sensible nurse Paula Corletto.

“Is that this certainly one of your vans?” Bauman requested, exhibiting Corletto a photograph of the van Deng went to.

“Sure,” Corletto mentioned.

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“As a result of we have been speaking to individuals who assume it’s a rip-off as a result of they haven’t heard again from their check outcomes,” Bauman mentioned.

“Just a few folks have, a really small proportion of individuals haven’t gotten their check outcomes as a result of it was a excessive quantity of individuals coming in to do the checks,” Corletto mentioned.

Rosenzweig says you don’t want to supply a social safety quantity, driver’s license or insurance coverage card to get a free COVID check.

“In the event that they’re asking you for these items, I’d stroll away,” she mentioned.

“Why have been you asking for insurance coverage info and picture copies of individuals’s IDs?” Bauman requested Corletto.

“We have to be sure that it’s truly you … We welcome anybody. Whether or not you will have insurance coverage otherwise you don’t, we’ll check you,” Corletto mentioned.

“However why even trouble asking for the insurance coverage?” Bauman requested.

“It’s simply, uh… I don’t know,” Corletto mentioned.

Deshi Senior Middle informed CBS2 the knowledge it collects is just going to its lab companions and says anybody who didn’t get outcomes can come again for one more check.

CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

The BBB recommends earlier than going to any pop-up check web site, seek for it on their web site or the state well being division’s.

The bureau provides whereas the traces for COVID checks at the moment are waning, specialists are anticipating a brand new rip-off on the horizon benefiting from the federal authorities providing free at-home check kits.

“You might need scammers who’re gonna arrange lookalike, soundalike-type web sites,” Rosenzweig mentioned.

Knowledge scientists are already beginning to discover copycat domains with some redirecting to adverts and others soliciting private info.

So how will you inform the distinction between the actual deal and the frauds?

“They’ve on the finish dot gov. They’re authorities web sites. Authorities web sites are very troublesome to get, so these shall be professional,” fraud knowledgeable William Kresse mentioned.

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Should you worry you’ve fallen prey to an identification theft rip-off, report it to the Federal Commerce Fee.