Eventbrite websites posing as Florida’s local health departments allegedly targeted the elderly in the state, charging money for fake vaccination appointments, prompting local health officials to issue warnings to residents Monday.
Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis
Ron DeSantis Governors Respond to Capitol Violence Website Collapses Before Early Coronavirus Vaccine Launches Eventbrite Sites Targeting Florida Seniors Charged Money for False Vaccination Appointments MORE (R) issued an executive order on 23 December requiring people aged 65 and over to be among the first people in the general public to receive the vaccine, after health workers and those living in nursing homes. long-term care.
According to the spokesman of the health department of Pasco county Melissa Watts, some seniors have recently arrived at vaccination centers in the county claiming to have appointments, only to find out that their reservation was fraudulent, Tampa Bay Times reported.
Eventbrite websites allegedly asked people to schedule meetings, prompting officials in Pasco and Pinellas counties to notify residents that there are no costs for registering a COVID-19 vaccine.
“There may be people who think they have meetings and they don’t. It’s a shame, “Watts told the Times, adding that Pasco is not yet sure how many people have scheduled appointments through Eventbrite websites.
Both Pasco and Pinellas health departments sent to Twitter on Monday notifying users of fake registration pages, adding “You do NOT have to be charged for registration. Registration is FREE. “
The departments posted on Twitter that the only way to schedule a meeting with the vaccine is through the county’s official websites.
Someone created a FAKE Eventbrite account to register for COVID-19 vaccination. You do NOT have to be charged for registration. Registration is FREE.
The only way to register at this time is by visiting our website at https://t.co/XEV02GdrN6 and access VACCINE DISTRIBUTION. pic.twitter.com/qYKCqxsh5a
– FL Health Pasco (@HealthyPasco) January 4, 2021
Someone created a FAKE Eventbrite account to register for COVID-19 vaccination. You do NOT have to be charged for registration. Registration is FREE.
The ONLY way to register at this time is by visiting our website at https://t.co/KQDZrmEsgR or by calling 727-824-6900
– Pin Health FL (@HealthyPinellas) January 4, 2021
Pinellas Department of Health posted on Twitter On Tuesday morning, “anyone who has made an appointment through the fraudulent Eventbrite website does not have a valid vaccination reservation, “but that” programmers will work with those individuals to enroll them in the program. ”
Anyone who made an appointment through the fraudulent Eventbrite website does not have a valid vaccination reservation at the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County. However, programmers will work with those individuals to enroll them in the program
– FL Health Pinellas (@HealthyPinellas) January 5, 2021
The news comes as the Times reported challenges for Florida seniors to schedule meetings to receive the coronavirus vaccine, with overwhelming demand blocking phone lines and website servers Monday.
Due to high demand and technical issues, Pinellas County has suspended online and telephone registration until 7 p.m., and Hillsborough County Health has extended its call schedule from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., starting Tuesday, to try to respond to the request.
The challenges with vaccine distribution come as well Sunshine State recorded a total of almost 1.4 million COVID-19 cases, with over 22,000 deaths caused by the virus and over 63,000 hospitalizations.
Last week, Florida health officials announced that they had detected the first state case of the new more infectious strain of coronavirus first found in the United Kingdom. Colorado and California have also detected cases of the new variant.
Hill contacted the governor’s office and the state health department about the fake vaccine appointments.