The Massachusetts Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) issued a tip sheet on what to know if older adults receive calls offering COVID-19 vaccines in exchange for money or personal information.

Regarding the potential scams, the Mass. SMP offers the following advice:

• Most Medicare beneficiaries will not have to pay to get this vaccine during this public health emergency.
• If someone offers to put you on a vaccination list in exchange for money, you are being scammed. You cannot pay to get on a list.
• If someone offers to get you early access to the vaccine in exchange for your credit card or Medicare number, you are being scammed. You cannot pay to get early access to the vaccine.
• No one from Medicare or your municipal or state health department will contact you and offer you the vaccine.
• No one from a vaccine distribution site or a private insurance company will call you asking for your Social Security number, your credit card number, or bank account information to sign you up to get the vaccine. If you get such a call you are being scammed.
• If you get a call, text, email, or even someone knocking on your door claiming they can get you early access to the vaccine, you are being scammed.
• You can report scams by calling the Massachusetts Senior Medicare Patrol Program’s Report-A-Scam line at 978-946-1243 or email to ReportAScam@MASMP.org