Given the scarce nature of tests, a new scam has arisen in the form of fake COVID-19 testing meant as a lure to collect personal and medical data, and money.
According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, in most cases, consumers will receive a phone call from someone claiming to be a medical professional or public health employee, asking you to make a COVID-19 test appointment. From there, they will proceed to obtain information such as your name, birth date, health card number, and other sensitive details.
In another reported version of this scam, consumers may receive an email or text message from someone impersonating your local drug store or someone from your work or school, offering you a COVID-19 test. A link is often included in this type of message, asking you to confirm that you’d like to be tested and fill out personal and medical information and/or submit your COVID-19 test result once you have it.
In a particularly alarming story reported to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, a consumer looking for COVID-19 travel related information found a number online of a fraudulent online travel agency. They proceeded to tell her that she must send Google gift cards for them to start the process of taking a COVID-19 test.
