The COVID-19 vaccines are finally here and being distributed! We can all say that the light at the end of the tunnel is in the future. It may take time to get the majority of people vaccinated, but knowing that some people are getting their vaccines today is reassuring. It’s an exciting time for everyone, regardless of where you live and who you are. However, with the vaccines being distributed, there’s something the experts want you to keep in mind. And that is that these vaccination cards have personal information on them. Between your phone number and address alone, there is some vital information on these cards. While you may trust most of the people on your social media, it only takes one person to screenshot the vaccination card. Not only can this lead to becoming a victim of a scam, but it can prove to be very dangerous.
What are the Risks?
When there’s a phone number out there for the grabbing, there’s a scammer who is going to take advantage of it. Whether it be for telemarketing calls or fraudulent scams, no one wants to find themselves victims in this situation. Worst case scenario, this important information being out there leads to someone hacking into your accounts, including banking accounts. Best case scenario, that is still less than ideal, you become the victim of spam calls. And while these calls are relatively harmless, given you do not fall for the traps. They can still be quite annoying and time-consuming to deal with. No one wants to be called around the clock about their car’s extended warranty. If you get these calls right now, you know exactly what we are talking about. Here at Advocare, our elder care in Palm Beach isn’t only about medical help, but also about protecting senior citizens from these situations.
Even if telemarketers and scammers do not keep you up at night, the other risks may make you think twice. One, in particular, is the dangers of someone having your address and personal information. It may seem like having your birth date along with your name out there is no big deal, this is stuff people might even be able to find on Facebook, right? Well, yes and no. It isn’t just your friends who can see your social media posts. It’s the people they share the posts with, and if your profile is on public, it’s everyone who wants to see it. You also do not want just anyone to have your address. Even if you think you know and can trust everyone on your social media, you never truly know everyone. With that said, you are putting yourself and your loved ones at risk with your address out there.
How Can I Avoid These Risks?
There is only one real way you can avoid these risks, and that’s not posting your vaccination card on social media. It doesn’t matter how many followers you have, friends you have, or apps you have, avoid posting the vaccination card on all of them. If you want to tell people you got the vaccine, go for it! But posting it as a picture for everyone and anyone to see can be a threat. Sharing the vaccination on social media is exciting and can spread the word about your experience. However, amid the excitement, it’s vital to ensure you are keeping yourself and your loved ones safe. Other methods of spreading the word about the vaccine and your experience can be done via video of you getting the vaccine, a status update, and a photo of the vaccination site. Spread the word, but stay safe!
Advocare, your local elder care in Palm Beach County, is here to ensure you stay safe. Whether it’s through medicine or online threats, we want to make sure you are not at any risk. Elder care in Palm Beach may seem to be all about medicine, but at Advocare, it’s so much more than that. Our team genuinely cares about their clients. To learn more about our senior citizen services, check out our website or give our team a call today at (561) 266-3489.