Covid vaccination scam warning
Dales resident receives convincing scam 'NHS' email.
A Dales resident and Lib Dem member reports being sent an impressively authentic looking email inviting her to book her coronavirus vaccination appointment.
It was only when the fake booking site suggested that she might like to make a payment to have her vaccination in the next few days rather than wait weeks that alarm bells starting ringing and she realised it was a scam.
As the BBC reported recently the NHS has warned people to be vigilant about fake invitations to have the coronavirus vaccination, sent by scammers.
The scam email includes a link to "register" for the vaccine, but no registration for the real vaccination is required.
The fake site also asks for bank details either to verify identification or to make a payment.
The NHS says it would never ask for bank details, and the vaccine is free.
Cyber-security consultant Daniel Card told BBC News that traffic data indicates thousands of people had clicked the link to the fake site - although it is unclear how many then filled in the form.
He urged people to remain vigilant: "These things spring up, we take them down and then they spring up again."
Both the National Cyber Security Centre and Action Fraud have asked anyone who receives a scam email or text to report it.
"Vaccines are our way out of this pandemic," said health secretary Matt Hancock.
"It is vital that we do not let a small number of unscrupulous fraudsters undermine the huge team effort under way across the country to protect millions of people from this terrible disease."
At the start of January, Derbyshire police issued a warning about a text message scam which offered Covid vaccinations.
"If you receive a text or email that asks you to click on a link or for you to provide information, such as your name, credit card or bank details, it's a scam," the force said.
Last year, tech firms warned that coronavirus was a popular hook for scammers. In April 2020 Google said it was blocking 18 million scam emails a day on the subject.
The COVID-19 vaccine is free of charge on the NHS.
We will never ask for:
❌ your bank account or card details
❌ your pin or banking password
❌ copies of personal documents to prove your identity such as your passport, driving licence, bills or pay slips. pic.twitter.com/fZtLhBAMCp- NHS (@NHSuk) January 25, 2021