Public health officials in Benton County say some residents there are receiving calls from people falsely claiming to help set up COVID-19 vaccine appointments.
The county has been holding mass vaccination clinics at Reser Stadium in Corvallis. Recently, some people have been showing up with a similar story: Someone named “Misty” called them and told them to show up at a certain time.
"That wasn't actually a county employee," said Alyssa Rash, a public information officer for Benton County. Rash said the the county is trying to figure out what exactly is going on.
“My biggest concern would be a phishing scam where somebody is calling and collecting information that can then be used to steal someone’s identity," she said. "But it is possible that people are just calling to play pranks.”
Rash says most vaccination appointments are scheduled online. The only people who should be getting calls are those who’ve told the county they don’t have internet access. In those cases, Rash said it's okay to call the Benton County COVID-19 phone bank at 541-766-6120 to verify that the appointment is legitimate.
The Federal Communications Commission has posted tips on avoiding vaccine-related scams.
To get "in line" for a COVID-19 vaccination in Benton County, the county has an online form to fill out. It's available in English and Spanish.
