(Des Moines)– Officials say we need to be on the lookout for scams involving new stimulus payments and COVID-19 vaccine.
Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller says his office has already received reports of a scammer contacting residents offering to sell a ticket or something similar to guarantee you have a place on a waiting list for the vaccine. He says you should also be wary of offers to undergo additional medical testing or procedures when obtaining a vaccine, and to be on the lookout for marketers offering to sell and/or ship doses of a vaccine in exchange for payment.
Unsolicited emails, telephone calls or personal contact from someone claiming to be with a medical office, insurance company or COVID-19 vaccine center requesting personal information are also warning signs.
Officials say we also need to be aware of scams involving stimulus payments. The Federal Trade Commission says anyone who says they can get you money earlier or faster through third parties is both lying and a scammer. They add no government agency will request you provide personal information in order to receive a stimulus payment.
And, they say, if your payment comes in the form of a debit card, do NOT throw it away. Some did that back in May and had difficulty getting a new one.
Nursing home residents on Medicaid can also receive stimulus payments. They will not be counted as income and will not disqualify Medicaid beneficiaries from nursing home care. However if the stimulus money is not spent within 12 months, it can be counted as an asset and could affect future eligibility. All Medicaid recipients must notify the Iowa Department of Human Services when they receive a stimulus payment.
