With the surge in cases fueled by the Omicron variant came a surge in the demand for coronavirus tests — and right behind it, a surge in accusations of fraud and warnings to U.S. consumers about dodgy coronavirus testing locations.
“Throughout California, fake testing sites are sprouting up to exploit families and individuals seeking Covid tests,” Rob Bonta, the attorney general of California, said in a statement last month.
Attorneys general in New Mexico, New York, Massachusetts, Oregon, Florida, Minnesota, California, Illinois, Colorado and Washington have all shut down or sued testing sites in recent weeks.
One thing that illegitimate test-site operators may be after is patients’ personal information, like credit card numbers, driver’s license data and Social Security numbers, which can be used afterward for identity theft or unsolicited online purchases. They may try to bill governments for tests they claim were provided to uninsured people, or charge consumers fees for tests that were supposed to be provided free, and then deliver made-up results or none at all.
“It is important for people to know that these sites are not licensed or regulated by a government agency, and they should ask…
