CHICAGO – Out of a small generator-powered shack on the city’s north side, a man periodically emerges to hand COVID-19 testing kits to people waiting in cars or shivering in the parking lot.
As he opens the door, piles of plastic bags, apparently grouped by test type, can be seen in crates on the ground. He encourages test-takers to scan a QR code with their phones, fill out an online form with identifying information and write a digitally-generated string of numbers on a paper sheet inside the plastic test kit bag.
Test-takers swab their noses and hand over the bags, free of charge. Some say they receive results many days later than promised – if they hear back at all.
As Americans nationwide continue to scramble for access to quick, reliable COVID-19 tests amid a national shortage, state and local authorities are warning residents to be on the lookout for fraudulent pop-up sites trying to scam people out of money and personal information. Some regretful test-takers spoke to USA TODAY about a particular string of testing centers: the so-called “Center for COVID Control.”
The Center for COVID Control operates more than 300 locations across at least 29 states, according to the company’s website. The locations pop up on Google maps searches with minimal information about the testing site beyond location and hours. The website claims the company is “partnered with a CDC approved & licensed laboratory” but does not specify which lab.
A Twitter account linking to the…
