Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

Your neighborhood. Your News.

Milwaukee NNSnewsMilwaukee NNSSearch
Subscribe to NNS today!
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
    • Arts and Recreation
    • Community
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Health and Wellness
    • Housing
    • Public Safety
    • NNS Spotlight
    • Special Report
  • Posts From Community
    • Submit a Story
  • Community Voices
  • How To
  • Multimedia
    • NNS Local Video
    • Photos
    • NNS on Lake Effect
    • NNS WGLB 1560 Radio
  • Subscribe
  • Donate
  • About
    • Staff
    • Partners
    • News 414
    • The neighborhoods we cover
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

Diederich College of Communication, Marquette University


Language: English English Spanish Spanish

You are here: Home / Home / Carousel / Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconsin warn residents of COVID-19 vaccine phone scam

Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconsin warn residents of COVID-19 vaccine phone scam

March 19, 2021 by Matt Martinez Leave a Comment

Share this...
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
The scene of registration at All Saints Catholic Church from the city’s mobile vaccination clinic. Many are still waiting to receive their vaccine, and scammers are preying on the uncertainty of the process. (Photo by Sue Vliet)

Patients of Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin reported calls last week from scammers, who claimed to be representatives of the health network, asking for financial information as a step toward getting the coronavirus vaccine.

Those affected said the calls appeared to come from the health system, and that the name “Froedtert Systems” appeared on the caller ID. The scammers then asked for credit card information.

Steve Schooff, director of external communications for Froedtert Hospital, said the health system was only aware of a few incidents of the scams but wanted to keep people from making the mistake.

“We would not ask for credit card information over the phone related to vaccine appointments,” Schooff said in an email.

Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin officials urged anyone who receives such a  phone call to hang up and not provide any information. They also suggest individuals take down the telephone numbers and reach out to local law enforcement.

If you have received a call from a scammer, you can also contact the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection for information and tips.

The website advises you close any compromised financial accounts, put a fraud alert on your annual credit report, and sign up for the Wisconsin Do Not Call Registry.

Lisa Schiller, director of investigations and media relations for the Better Business Bureau Serving Wisconsin, urged people to do research and be skeptical of anything they receive that might seem too good to be true.

She also recommended directly contacting your doctor’s office or health care provider before giving any personal information. She warned that scammers can make emails and phone calls look and sound legitimate, like the caller ID details on the Froedtert calls.

“This scam is particularly heinous because so many people are in the process of getting vaccines or waiting for more information,” Schiller said.

Schiller recommended bbb.org/coronavirus for anyone who wanted to learn more about scams related to COVID-19.

Share this...
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin

Filed Under: Carousel, Health and Wellness, Home, Neighborhoods, News Tagged With: coronavirus, covid-features

About Matt Martinez

Facebook | More stories from Matt

Matthew, a 2020 Marquette University graduate, joins Milwaukee NNS as part of Report For America, a program that seeks to strengthen local journalism by placing journalists in communities that have a greater need for issues based reporting. Prior to joining NNS, Matt developed his reporting skills at the Marquette Wire, on the investigative desk, covering issues such as housing, human trafficking and health care in the Milwaukee.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement

Recent News

5 things to know and do the weekend of March 24

Here’s what you need to know before the spring election on April 4 

Can formerly incarcerated people legally vote in Wisconsin? It depends.

Advertisement
Give today to support our mission. Donate to Milwaukee NNS.
Advertisement

News

  • Arts and Recreation
  • Economic Development
  • Education
  • Health and Wellness
  • Housing
  • Public Safety
  • NNS Spotlight
  • Special Reports

Engage with us

  • Posts from Community
  • Community Voices
  • Submit a Story

About NNS

  • Milwaukee NNS Staff
  • Partners
  • News414
  • The neighborhoods we cover
  • Careers
  • Terms of use
  • Advertise

Connect with us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS feed

Communities

Contact

mailing address
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Diederich College of Communication
Marquette University
1131 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Johnston Hall 430
Milwaukee, WI 53233

email
info@milwaukeenns.org

phone & fax
PHONE: 414.604.6397 FAX: 414.288.6494


Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service is a project of Diederich College of Communication and Marquette University.
© 2020 Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. Terms of use.
1131 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee WI 53233 • info@milwaukeenns.org

Copyright © 2023 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in