CALLOUS VACCINE SCAMMERS WARNING
CORONAVIRUS vaccine scams, with fraudsters even impersonating GPs, have been targeting elderly people in Devon and Cornwall.
Devon and Cornwall Police issued a warning on social media informing people of the dangers of the con artists at work.
The Covid vaccine scams normally take the form of a phony email or text message, but the police said this scam has even included people turning up at homes.
Fraudulent emails or text messages will appear legitimate, at first glance, often including NHS logos and calls to action in an attempt to make recipients feel they should reply urgently.
The emails and messages will contain links to external, non-NHS, websites where victims are told to book their vaccines.
Payment information is then often requested as “proof” of identity – and with this information, the fraudsters can cause real damage to a victim’s bank account.
They might not be as obvious as asking for payment details specifically. Fraudsters will sometimes ask for a variety of personal information, claiming it is for “verification” purposes, which they can use to ‘reverse-engineer’ banking information.
With scammers turning up in person, police warn they might ask people for details which they can use for similar purposes.
The NHS has previously stated that this is not how they are carrying out vaccine enrolment and that anyone receiving a cold call should request identification and call ActionFraud.
On Twitter, the police wrote: “We know there have been reports of vaccine scams targeting elderly people and need help sharing these tips.
“Some fraudsters have posed as GPs requesting payment or turned up at people’s homes.”
They added that vaccinators will not turn up at people’s doors unannounced, that the vaccine is free, and to watch out for misspellings and poor grammar to detect scams.
A spokesperson for the NHS said: “We are aware that some people are receiving suspicious calls and text messages offering the Covid-19 vaccination.
“Coronavirus vaccines are only available on the NHS.
“You can be contacted by the NHS, your employer, or a GP surgery local to you, to receive your vaccine.
“Remember, the vaccine is free of charge. At no point will you be asked to pay.”
One reader, who previously reported receiving a scam communication, said: “I thought it was a little bit coincidental that I’d been waiting to hear about a vaccine and then had been invited to an appointment by email.
“I looked at the information it [the fake NHS] required and I thought it was very strange to ask for my mother’s maiden name to verify who I am.
“It asked for my name and address and my mother’s maiden name, and I know banks often use that information so realised it was a scam. I’m worried about the elderly and people waiting to hear about their vaccine, [it would be easy to fall for this scam],” he added.
Scam emails, messages and cold calls can be reported to the police via actionfraud.police.uk.