ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – The New York State Division of Consumer Protection issued a warning Tuesday after scammers took advantage of the free COVID-19 test government program to steal personal information. Due to high demand, scammers will likely start using techniques that typically correspond with free government events, such as falsely claiming to be online providers of the tests.
“The arrival of the COVID-19 free at home tests is one more tool in the fight to end this brutal pandemic, but unfortunately, it also creates new opportunities for unscrupulous scammers to attempt to lure people into unintentionally providing their personal information,” said Acting Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez. “As the free at-home test program is rolled out, New Yorkers can thwart the scammers by keeping their personal, financial and health information safe and questioning any requests for a social security number, credit card, health insurance or other personally identifiable information from anyone not affiliated with a trusted health or government entity.”
Every home in the United States is eligible to order four at-home COVID tests for free online. Consumers are reminded that the only website to do so is www.covidtests.gov. This link will direct you to a United States Postal Service page to complete the free at home test kit request form, where you will be prompted to enter…