Coronavirus Scam Alert

Posted on August 27th, 2021

We have recently been made aware of an increase in scam callers pretending to be from the NHS Coronavirus Vaccination Service. These scammers are attempting to obtain personal information and financial details from patients.

If you receive a call from someone who claims to be from the NHS Vaccination Service, your GP Practice or the Government, and are asking for:

• personal information
• financial details such as bank account information or credit card details

do not provide the information.

Legitimate callers will never ask for this information over the phone.

Please be aware when answering automated calls where you are asked to select an option – this can leave you at risk of connecting to a high-cost premium number, leaving you liable for a significant call cost.

Furthermore, there has been an increase in scam texts, where victims are asked to click a link that sends them to a fake NHS website where they are asked for personal details.

Phishing emails can also be very convincing at first glance, but by checking the sender, you can see where they have come from. Do not click any links in these emails, which take you to a website that encourages you to enter personal details.

For more information, please visit: Coronavirus scam calls and texts – Ofcom

Always use caution and if you are unsure, call the service back on their published contact numbers to confirm… and remember, the NHS will NEVER ask for financial information.