Chicago (WBBM Newsradio) — Scammers are taking advantage of the COVID-19 Illinois vaccine lottery, an initiative created to encourage residents to get vaccinated.
Through the lottery, the state will award $7 million in cash prizes for adults and $3 million in scholarships for youth who are vaccinated.
So far, only four people have won prizes in the Illinois vaccine lottery, including a Chicago resident who won $1 million.
Steve Bernas, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois, told WBBM Newsradio people are already reporting getting phone calls that say they won the lottery or calls that say they can help you register for the lottery by divulging your social security or bank account number.
“And the scammers say they can help you get on the list or get registered. So, they’re kind of doing both things, either saying that you’ve won or that they’ll need more information for you to become eligible,” Bernas said.
Anyone who has received the vaccine is already registered for the lottery and, Bernas said, official winners will be informed by the Illinois Department of Public Health, which does not ask for a person's personal information.
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