Missourians ages 12 and older who have received the COVID-19 vaccine are eligible to enter a lottery drawing to win $10,000. Unfortunately, the Missouri SMP (Senior Medicare Patrol) has learned that this incentive to be an “MO VIP WINNER” also has brought out potential scammers, and you should be careful with your personal information – just as always.
If you have received your vaccine, visit https://covidvaccine.mo.gov/win to register to win. There will be several drawings between Aug. 13 and Oct. 20. If you are unable to register online, you may call the call center at 1-(877) 435-8411 to provide your information. There are three categories – red, white, and blue – based on your age and date of vaccination.
However, don’t let your excitement over the prospect of winning make you vulnerable to imposters who might call you, tell you that you have won, and then ask for personal information. The first drawing doesn’t take place until Aug. 13th. Any calls before that may be fraudulent.
The state call center team will not have access to your entry records and thus will not be able to verify your entry. You will be provided an email verification upon submission that will serve as your official entry confirmation. You will not be asked for your Social Security Number at the time of entry, but it will be required on certain forms during the verification process if you were randomly selected as a winner. You will be contacted by the phone number and email address provided in your entry. If you do not provide an email, the Department of Health and Senior Services will only be able to contact you by phone. If you have any doubt about who is calling or emailing, use the 877 number to verify. Do not succumb to pressure on the phone.
As always, report suspected health care fraud or abuse to the Missouri SMP (Senior Medicare Patrol) at (888) 515-6565. The Missouri SMP empowers and assists Medicare beneficiaries to prevent, detect and report healthcare fraud, errors, and abuse.
This project was supported, in part by grant number 90MPPG0040, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy.