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Warning over Covid 'paid' vaccine phone scam
Scammers are offering a paid vaccination at people’s homes using a telephone number that begins with 08
The préfet of Doubs, a department in the east of France, has put out a reminder that the Covid-19 vaccine is free. Two vaccination centres there reported that some individuals have been contacted by telephone with scammers offering paid jabs at home.
The préfet Tweeted on Saturday (January 29) that “it is a scam”.
“The vaccination is free and a paid home service does not exist. The préfet calls for vigilance.”
2 centres de vaccination ont signalé @Prefet25 des appels proposant à des particuliers de se faire vacciner à domicile contre paiement. C est une arnaque. La vaccination est gratuite et il n’existe pas de service payant de vaccination à domicile. Le préfet appelle à la vigilance.
— Préfet du Doubs (@Prefet25) January 29, 2021
The telephone number begins with 08, local newspaper France Bleu Besançon reported.
The Covid-19 vaccination is free for French nationals and everyone living permanently in France.
Covid-19 vaccine in France: Your questions answered
It is possible to receive the vaccine at your home if you have problems with mobility, but this is still 100% free.
The Doubs préfet is not the only authority in France to signal issues with fraudulent vaccine offers.
The mairie of Digne-les-Bains in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department warned people about emails and phone calls offering fake vaccination services.
“Fraudulent e-mails and phone calls are sent out in large numbers, announcing the arrival of new vaccines and offering appointments to the population,” the mairie wrote in a press release.
“It is strongly recommended that you do not follow them and do not click on the proposed links.
“To date, only the Centre Communal d’Action Sociale (CCAS) is authorised to directly contact people identified as vulnerable, to inform them of vaccination possibilities.”
