Researchers are recruiting participants for
COVID-19 vaccine research in Wisconsin, and scammers are
beginning to take advantage. If you are considering
participating in a vaccine trial, make sure you know how to
distinguish legitimate studies from imposters. Use these tips
from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Wisconsin
Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
(DATCP), and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS)
to avoid becoming a victim of an imposter scam.
Verify the research study. Clinical
trials are big news; you should be able to find news stories
online for legitimate trials on COVID-19 vaccines in your area
by looking at local news sites. If you see an advertisement for
a study, do an online search with the provided information and
the terms “news,” “scam,” or “review” to check whether the study
is legitimate. Do not click on links in emails, messages, or
pop-up advertisements. Instead, use a verified website for the
study host to ensure that you are not providing information to a
scammer.
If you are interested in volunteering for a
research study, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Disease at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) runs a
COVID-19 Prevention Network site with a volunteer screening
database that can match you to a current or future study.
Alternatively, you can verify information on a wide range of
clinical studies, including if they are currently recruiting
participants, and official contact information, by searching the
free searchable database maintained by NIH and the National
Library of Medicine at
ClinicalTrials.Gov.
Understand what personal information the
study may need. Screening questions for volunteers will
likely include information such as your name, phone number,
email, address, age, gender, race, ethnicity, and medical
history. However, legitimate clinical trials should not ask for
your Social Security number or financial account numbers.
Never pay to participate. Many
legitimate vaccine studies may offer compensation for
participation in the study. However, legitimate studies will not
ask for payment or credit card information. If you are
compensated for participation in a legitimate study, you can
further protect your financial information by asking for your
payment as a check rather than direct deposit.
If you have been a victim of an imposter
scam, related to COVID-19 or otherwise, file a consumer
complaint with DATCP. Consumers can file a complaint online at
datcp.wi.gov, by calling the Consumer Protection Hotline at
(800) 422-7128, or by emailing
DATCPHotline@wisconsin.gov.
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