Lakeport Police warn residents about recent scams
LAKEPORT >> The Lakeport Police Department wants citizens to beware of COVID-19 vaccination scams as the roll-out of public-facing vaccinations begin nationwide. Law enforcement officials warned on their official social media channels Thursday that these scams “are taking many forms” and advice citizens that the safest practice is being educated on a few simple facts.
“No one can sell you a reservation or appointment for a COVID-19 vaccination,” officials stated, noting that any and all reservations or appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations are made in a specific person’s name, and that person will be required to show state issued photo identification at the vaccination sites.
The County Health Department informed residents Tuesday that starting Tuesday of next week, following the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday, vaccination centers will operate six days a week from Monday through Saturday in both Lakeport and Clearlake.
Officials added that vaccinations will be provided to categorical groups of people regardless of race, nationality and/or immigration status. If you are part of the categorized group of citizens that are being vaccinated at that time, you will be able to get vaccinated regardless of your race or immigration status; and, vaccinations are now and will likely remain free of charge for a very long time (except for possibly a small administrative fee charged by some medical providers). “Anyone who is trying to sell you a vaccination is a scammer,” noted department officials.
As the vaccines begins public-facing roll-out, it will initially be targeting specific at-risk groups. “Your identification will be checked at every vaccination site to ensure that you are both: The person named in the appointment, and that you are in the category of specific atrisk or otherwise categorized group (i.e. public educator, 75 and older, first responder, general public, etc.)
Officials added that for these reasons, residents will not be able to, nor need to, purchase any concept or item marketed as a reservation, appointment, place-inline or other gimmick relative to COVID-19 vaccinations.
Additionally, getting the vaccination does not have a cost, citizens will be able to get it for free once roll-out gets to their specific category, which they stated has been occurring at a faster than anticipated pace.
Scams taking money from our seniors continue
“Yesterday we learned that an 86-year-old resident was targeted by a scammer who was successful in obtaining bank account information and then took $15,000 from the victims account,” department officials reported Thursday. They added that this was the typical telephone scam that seeks to target elderly persons and advised of a big win of a prize but that they needed the bank info to deposit the funds.
“Most of the public are well aware of telephone and internet scams these days however these scams continue because the scammers are persistent and successful in targeting victims,” the Lakeport officials noted. “In this case, as in most others the money is likely not recoverable. Additionally, many scams operate from outside the country and United States law enforcement is limited on their ability to investigate or apprehend offenders.”
“These scammers work hard to identify and target elderly and other vulnerable victims in our communities. We urge families to take precautions in making sure their loved ones do not fall victim to these scams.”
Authorities urge residents to please report any Scams that they encounter to their local law enforcement agencies.
The County Health Department informed residents Tuesday that starting Tuesday of next week, following the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday, vaccination centers will operate six days a week from Monday through Saturday in both Lakeport and Clearlake.