As an alert from Coplay Crime Watch, it is expected Pennsylvania state, county and local officials will join federal officials in their expressed concern about fraud during the massive effort to provide coronavirus vaccinations for the entire 330 million population of the United States.

The federal Department of Homeland Security expects numerous criminal fraud attempts involving domestic and international criminal enterprises during the delivery of free vaccinations. These actions may ultimately fleece some residents in the Lehigh Valley.

The challenge is weeding out financial fraud efforts, as fraudsters have an arsenal of techniques to extract an unsuspecting person’s personal and financial information.

It is expected websites may sprout up that look legitimate to unsuspecting people, making them ripe for exploitation. Techniques for free COVID-19 vaccines on a real-looking website, asking the viewer to enter a name, address, Social Security number, email address and other personal information the fraudster can use to clean out a person’s bank account or make purchases in the unsuspecting person’s name, end up sticking the victim with the bill.

The feds will be working to identify and stifle criminal organizations that set up frauds to steal money and personal information from unwitting people. At the local level, it is important personal information, credit card information and Social Security and Medicare numbers are never given during a phone call.

If someone gives you any offer over the phone that you must act on today, tell them you never do that and ask that they mail information to you for review. At that point, if it is a fraudster, the call will likely be disconnected.

Be extraordinarily wary of any email you may have in your inbox claiming you can reserve a COVID-19 vaccination by registering online. Do not give any requested information to emails regarding a COVID-19 vaccine. Again, these emails may look entirely legitimate. You can report them to your local police.

There might even be bold fraudsters knocking on doors to speak with you about reserving a coronavirus vaccine. They might ask you how you are feeling, if you have symptoms, the name of your doctor or hospital and your health insurance or Medicare card numbers.

If someone unknown to you knocks on your door asking for health information regarding a free COVID-19 vaccine, a simple technique is, if you have a smartphone, ask the person to stand still so you can take his or her photo. The person will likely quickly exit your property. If he or she does not leave your property, call the Lehigh County Communications Center at 610-437-5252 and ask the local police to respond to your home. Then, get a description of the fraudster while he or she is running down your street.