The roll out of COVID-19 vaccines in Kamloops and across the province is bringing out the con artists looking to cash in on vulnerable seniors.

Karla Laird of the Better Business Bureau says this scam involves people calling seniors to book their vaccine appointment, asking for all kinds of personal information like your home address, social insurance number and credit card information which she says is totally unnecessary.

“Of course it’s a scam because we know that the vaccine is free and that there’s certain details that whoever is going to be calling you from your provincial health authority will not be asking you certain questions especially when it relates to your payment and credit card details,” she said.

“Once they ask you for anything that requires payment it’s a scam. If they’re asking you for your social insurance number you also know that that is a scam because the provincial health authority, when they contact you, they’re not going to be asking you for that information.”

Laird points out that the vast majority of people are expected to make the initial call to get their first dose of the vaccine. She says health officials may call seniors in supportive housing but the only information you’ll be asked for is your first and last name, date of birth, postal code, your health care number, email, and phone number.

“We know for a certainty that the vaccine is free,” Laird added. “So, if at any point, anyone is asking you to share payment details, you can confidently hang up the phone and know that you are closing off any kind of conversations with a scammer.”

Laird recommends you call the police if people they start to ask for any kind of payment or other questions trying to get you to divulge your personal information.