FBI: Beware Of These Covid-19 Coronavirus Antibody Testing Scams

Before you give them your blood, make sure that they don’t take your sweat, tears, and identity too. If you are going to get a Covid-19 coronavirus antibody test, be careful, be very careful.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued a warning about some really wonderful people: fraudsters trying to scam you with bogus Covid-19 coronavirus antibody tests and related schemes. Imagine, people actually trying to lie to or fool you for personal gain in the middle of a pandemic. Stunning, right?

Covid-19 coronavirus serology tests or antibody tests can check whether you have developed antibodies against the severe acute respiratory synsrome cornavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2). The presence of such antibodies is a sign that you have already been exposed to the virus at some point. Your body takes some time to form such antibodies so they aren’t present early on during an infection. The prefix “sero” doesn’t stand for “seriously” but instead for “serum,” as in blood serum. Serum is the clear, yellowish fluid part of your blood. So a serology test checks for the presence of particular antibodies in a sample of your blood serum.

Keep in mind that having antibodies in your blood may not necessarily mean that you are immune to the Covid-19 coronavirus. Researchers are still figuring out whether you can develop immunity to the virus and, if so, how long this immunity may last. As the World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasized, there is currently no such thing as a legitimate “immunity passport,” proof that you can go back to normal pre-pandemic life because you are protected against the virus.

That hasn’t stopped the fraudsters from making all sorts of claims. The FBI listed the following “potential indicators of fraudulent activity” when it comes to antibody testing:

• “Claims of FDA approval for antibody testing that cannot be verified”
• “Advertisements for antibody testing through social media platforms, email, telephone calls, online, or from unsolicited/unknown sources”
• “Marketers offering ‘free’ COVID-19 antibody tests or providing incentives for undergoing testing “
• “Individuals contacting you in person, phone, or email to tell you the government or government officials require you to take a COVID-19 antibody test”
• “Practitioners offering to perform antibody tests for cash”

In this case, FDA stands for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and not the Florida Dart Association. In general, dart associations should not be the first place to go for medical advice, even if you have a dart stuck in your head.

Scam artists are using serology test schemes to essentially steal your money as well as personal information about you. This may be via interview questions or forms or surveys that you are asked to complete, even before you agree to get tested. So be on the alert when you hear something like “try our fabulous antibody test. Oh, by the way, what was the name of your first pet?” The fact that you named your cat Kiefer William Frederick Dempsey George Rufus Sutherland should have nothing to do Covid-19 coronavirus antibody testing.

Before you undergo any type of testing, even at what seems to be a legitimate location, like a major hospital, get details on the type of test and its manufacturer. Think about it. Before you get intimate with someone, you typically want to have at least some sense of that person’s identity. It’s not a great idea to wait until afterwards to say, “thanks. That was good. Oh, by the way. Who are you? What’s you name?”

Somewhat similarly, ask for the name and brand of the test before you agree to it. Don’t blindly accept whatever test is being offered to you. Cross-check the name with the FDA list of approved tests to confirm that it’s indeed received emergency use authorization (EUA). In fact, for many of the tests that have received EUAs, the FDA includes details on the test’s performance as well. Now, while it may be overkill to seek data on your date’s past performance before getting intimate, doing so with an antibody test is warranted and important. Since the FDA relaxed regulations to allow more Covid-19 coronavirus tests to be rushed to the market, there is now wide variability in test accuracy as this CNET video has shown:

Don’t undergo a test that may be quite inaccurate.

The FBI also recommended that you consult “your primary care physician before undergoing any at-home antibody tests.” This, of course, assumes that your primary care physician isn’t “whatever random doctor happens to be assigned to me each time I show up at the clinic.” It’s better to have a physician who really knows you and medical history, one whom you can regularly communicate with and trust.

Additionally, the FBI suggested “using a known laboratory approved by your health insurance company to provide the antibody testing.” Don’t assume that your health insurance will pay or reimburse you for your testing without confirming it with your insurance company. That would be like assuming that a stranger is using protection during sex without even checking. You could end up getting screwed in many different ways. Even after an insurance company has confirmed that it can cover a test, you never know what kind of hassles or rigmarole will emerge. “Oh, we said that we would cover the test. But that’s only when you are wearing a red shirt and humming a Lady Gaga song. Otherwise, you will have to fill out this 50 page form to get additional authorization.”

Speaking of paperwork, the FBI also warned that you should check “your medical bills and insurance explanation of benefits (EOBs) for any suspicious claims and promptly reporting any errors to your health insurance provider.” This may seem challenging because medical bills and insurance documents can be as confusing as the plot of the movie The Matrix Revolutions. But never assume that your medical bills and what your insurance company decided to cover are correct.

Finally, if encounter any possibilities of fraud, call the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or visit the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) complaint website. You can also try to reach the FBI (ic3.gov, tips.fbi.gov, or 1-800-CALL-FBI).

All of this fraudster behavior certainly doesn’t fall in the “people are awesome” category. The Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic has been a test of many people’s fortitude, conscientiousness, principles, and morals. Unfortunately, there are those who have failed the test.