Beware vaccine scam email

Pebbles82 · 01-29-2021, 01:18 AM

Just to warn others - I had a very convincing email supposedly from the NHS inviting me for the vaccine based on my medical history yesterday. It looks very authentic and it was OH who thought it might be a scam. It took quite a bit of googling to find out it is a scam because the NHS website does actually say you may be contacted by email and I do have a particular medical risk.

So I'm linking what it looks like below - published in two newspapers. In fact the only reason I didn't click on the link to accept was because I needed advice from GP first as to whether I could have it due to previous anapylaxis.

So do be careful. Apparently if you do click on the link it asks you for money so then it's obvious it's a scam, but by then your email address has been stolen and it could also download malware on your pc and steal information.

Absolutely disgusting that criminals are trying to con people into thinking they can have the vaccine! The links below are ok by the way! Both to newspapers.

Beware this dangerous Covid-19 vaccine NHS email scam that experts warn is '''extremely convincing'''

Warning issued over NHS scam email covid vaccine | Eastern Daily Press

LunaTheHamster1 · 01-29-2021, 09:42 AM

I have just had a at first glance legitimate looking email, not like what you have linked to, but it has a really long invitation number which just does not seem real and there is some gobbledegook right at the bottom, other than that it looks real.

I was actually blown away at first, cos I am in group 6 for the vaccine but not expecting my drs to realise that so was like 'wow' they emailed me. sadly a scam

They also say you only have 24hours to use the link, a known way to panic and pressure people into clicking.

Pebbles82 · 01-29-2021, 10:03 AM

Yes I think that's a different one going round Luna. It is dreadful! The one I received really did fool me until OH said he'd read about scam emails. The NHS website does actually say you might be contacted by post, text or email as well which can add to the uncertainty. Plus newspaper reports that some regions have excess vaccine and so have been vaccinating younger people as well - adds to the possible authenticity of the scam email!

LunaTheHamster1 · 01-29-2021, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Yes I think that's a different one going round Luna. It is dreadful! The one I received really did fool me until OH said he'd read about scam emails. The NHS website does actually say you might be contacted by post, text or email as well which can add to the uncertainty. Plus newspaper reports that some regions have excess vaccine and so have been vaccinating younger people as well - adds to the possible authenticity of the scam email!

would be so funny if mine was legit and i just thought it was dodgy

sushi_78 · 01-29-2021, 10:37 AM

If you're unsure if an email is real, you can go to the NHS website (not using any links in the email), find their vaccine appointment booking page and put in your NHS number. It will tell you if you are eligible. I'm not sure if the official emails contain any links but in any case, you won't need to click on them to book an appointment.

LunaTheHamster1 · 01-29-2021, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sushi_78

If you're unsure if an email is real, you can go to the NHS website (not using any links in the email), find their vaccine appointment booking page and put in your NHS number. It will tell you if you are eligible. I'm not sure if the official emails contain any links but in any case, you won't need to click on them to book an appointment.

Thanks Sushi
I also read that you will get a call from an 0300 no i think it was to remind you to book it, you don't book with them, its just a chase up call. worth knowing though.

Amethyst_ice · 01-29-2021, 07:59 PM

It really saddens me that people are really taking advantage of the pandemic to scam like this.

Despite warning my 84 year old Grandma of all the scams.. one recently phoning about NI numbers and illegal activity....

She had the phone call and said she knew it was fake but got into such a state she sat crying and shaking and is afraid to answer the phone now. It was an automated message as well yet it had that effect on her.

It frustratess me as we do all we can to protect her but she panics in the moment and forgets things. So no matter how much advice we tell her, write it down, she lives alone and people take advantage of that.

I made sure to check her vaccine invite and was legit. Sadly in times of worry and crisis, peoples usual common sense sometimes goes out the window.

It is important we check in on our family and friends and share these and report these scams.

Amethyst_ice · 01-29-2021, 08:00 PM

For my own personal vaccine invite,

I had a phone call from my nurse at my GP's and a text message confirmation. So it may come local and not a big general type invite

Pebbles82 · 01-30-2021, 04:27 AM

Yes definitely don’t click on “accept” or “decline “ as those are links - even if they don’t look like the usual blue links.

Luna - maybe ring your GP if you are expecting to be called. Or good tip from Sushi about the NHS website.

That is awful about your Gran Amethyst - so sorry. Yes it is an extremely hard time on the elderly who need looking out for.

LunaTheHamster1 · 01-30-2021, 06:43 AM

I think i read that if your gp doing them more likely to get a phone call, if you have to go to a big covid vacine place for it, you might get an email

that is horrible Amethyst.

To be honest, I got the scam email, thought is it real, then thought maybe not, then thought i will look at it more later, came on here, saw what Serendipity wrote and thought ahhh that confirms what i was thinking.
i'm not really following news and covid stuff so i didn't know about the scams, but sadly didn't surprise me.