Fresh warning to Surrey residents over Covid-19 vaccine scams
Fraudsters are targeting people via text messages
Last updated 5th Feb 2021
A warning has gone out reminding people that the NHS is not charging for the coronavirus vaccine.
The fresh warning is from Surrey and Buckinghamshire Trading Standards, about scammers using sophisticated methods to cheat people out of cash to book their Covid-19 vaccination.
It is urging vigilance over the scams which are used to get personal details and payments from residents.
Fraudsters are sending text messages pretending to be from the NHS..
Trading Standards say they bear certain spelling mistakes - and their requests for bank details are consistent with phishing campaigns.
A typical example, shared by the authority, reads:
“NHS: We have identified that your are eligible to apply for the Covid vaccine.
“For more information and to apply, follow here…”
There is then a fake NHS website link attached which asks for the person’s name, address, date of birth, payment card, and proof of address.
The reasoning, it says, is to “get the right mix of different people taking the vaccine”, “confirm identity”, and “confirm ownership of address”.
Trading Standards are urging people to be on their guard: "Scammers are charging for Covid-19 vaccines they don’t have and stealing financial data.
“The vaccine is free and the NHS will never ask you to hand over financial details.”