Be on Alert: COVID-19 Vaccine Schemes Emerge
your Social Security, bank account
or credit card number
3. If you get a call, text, email –
or even someone knocking on your
door – claiming they can get you
early access to the vaccine, STOP.
That’s a scam.
4. Beware of providers offering
other products, treatments, or
medicines to prevent the virus.
5. Check with your health care
provider before paying for or
receiving any COVID-19-related
treatment.
If you suspect you are a victim of
a scam, contact the Federal Trade
Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.
gov, or call 311 and ask for the
Department for the Aging’s Elderly
Crime Victims Resource Center.
The Department for the Aging has
been at the forefront of helping older
victims of crimes since 1981. We are
in close communication with the
New York City Police Department
about complaints of fraudulent
activity, hold webinars with the
District Attorney’s office and the
Consumer Affairs Department, as
well as conduct public education
campaigns with advocates and our
network of service providers. We are
here for older New Yorkers.
I also want to take the opportunity
to let everyone know that in the
coming year, we plan to continue
advocating and work with partners
to ensure that older New Yorkers
have the support system they need
to age in place. Community care
support and services, such as those
provided through the Department
for the Aging’s network, has been
shown in numerous studies to keep
people healthy longer and to help
them avoid institutional care. We
will speak more about community
care and our ongoing work to ensure
that older New Yorkers receive it in
next month’s column.
We are happy to begin 2021 right,
with new beginnings and having
the vaccine available to older New
Yorkers over 65.
NYC Department for the
Aging Commissioner Lorraine
Cortés-Vázquez
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HERE’S HOW IT WORKS
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One scam in particular is known
as the “grandparent scam.” In this
scam, callers posing as panicked
grandchildren in trouble call or
send messages urging you to wire
money immediately. In 2020,
the Federal Trade Commission
received 24,545 complaints of
individuals impersonating
family members and friends,
a 21% increase from 2019.
New Yorkers alone filed 1,359
complaints in 2020.
But there are steps you can
take to avoid becoming a victim of
a scam. Here are some general tips
to remember:
1. DO NOT give your personal or
financial information in response to
a request that you did not expect.
2. Resist the pressure to act
immediately.
3. Shred documents that contain
personal identity information.
Criminals known as “dumpster
divers” see trash as gold mines and
use this information to commit fraud.
The FBI has also issued tips to
safeguard yourself from COVID-19
scams:
1. You cannot pay to put your
name on a list to get the vaccine, or
get early access to it.
2. No one is authorized to call
you about the vaccine and ask for
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NYC
RANKED
CHOICE
VOTING
Happy New Year to all! I am
grateful for many things, one of
them of course is that this past year
is behind us. I feel hopeful because
2021 is filled with promise. And
we’re beginning the year right –
the COVID-19 vaccine is here.
We went through so much
last year. Living in isolation,
away from friends and family.
I, and as I’m sure, many older
adults across the City felt a
sigh of relief to know that a
vaccine is now available for us.
Since January 11th, older New
Yorkers 65+ have been eligible for
the vaccine. The vaccine is safe and
free. By calling 1-877-VAX4NYC or
visiting nyc.gov/vaccinefinder, you
can schedule an appointment.
I would like to reiterate that the
COVID-19 vaccine is free. And I am
stressing this as scammers are using
the COVID-19 vaccine availability to
defraud New Yorkers.
SPECIAL NOTE: You may receive
a legitimate robocall from Dr. Dave
A. Chokshi, commissioner of the
New York City Department of Health
and Mental Hygiene, alerting you
about vaccine availability and that
you can schedule an appointment
over the phone.
But what scammers are doing
is different. They are calling and
promising older New Yorkers a
spot on the “vaccine reservation
list” in exchange for a deposit, bank
account or credit card information,
or personal information like their
social security number. This is
simply not true.
There has been a surge in
fraud cases since the pandemic
began. Scammers are professional
manipulators who live for
opportunities like this. These
criminals buy subscriber lists of
people that will make good targets,
such as older adults. They know most
of us are at home and that many of
us are lonely given as we have not
seen many friends and family since
COVID-19 began.
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In 2021, the city of New York will
use Ranked-Choice Voting for all
NYC primaries and special elections.
UPCOMING SPECIAL ELECTION
February 2, 2021 - Queens City Council District 24
Early Voting – January 23 - 31
Visit VOTE.NYC or call 1-866-VOTE-NYC
early voting hours and learn more about Ranked-Choice Voting
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/vaccinefinder