The US government has resumed offering free COVID test kits to help Americans stay safe, but scammers are taking advantage of this opportunity to defraud consumers.
“Shipping is free, too,” the FTC emphasized, telling users that the only thing they need to provide to receive their tests is their name and shipping address.
“Sharing your email is optional if you’d like to get confirmation and delivery updates from the U.S. Postal Service,” the agency said. “Anyone who asks for more information than that is a scammer. You don’t need to give financial information or pay anything to get these free tests, and nobody can promise you special access or extra tests. If they do, they’re scammers.”
How to Order Free COVID Test Kits
If you suspect someone is trying to scam you, or a website looks suspicious, check it with Scamio, our AI-powered scam detection tool. Send any texts, messages, links, QR codes, or images to Scamio, which will analyze them to determine if they are part of a scam. Scamio is free and available on Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and your web browser. You can also help others stay safe by sharing Scamio with them in France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Romania, Australia, and the UK.
How many free test kits can I order?
Each household can order up to four free COVID test kits.
Do I need to provide payment or credit card information to receive the kits?
No. The test kits are completely free, and you will not be asked for any payment information or other sensitive data.
What should I do if I receive a suspicious email about free COVID test kits?
Do not click on any links or provide personal information. Report the email as phishing and delete You should only order through COVIDtests.gov.
What happens if I accidentally give my information to a scam site?
If you think you've been scammed, immediately report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and inform local law enforcement. You may also want to monitor your credit report and bank accounts for any suspicious activity.
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Alina is a history buff passionate about cybersecurity and anything sci-fi, advocating Bitdefender technologies and solutions. She spends most of her time between her two feline friends and traveling.
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