Residents are being advised to stay alert following the news that fake coronavirus vaccination scams are circulating, tricking people into giving financial details away.
Bedfordshire Council have revealed that scammers are sending fake text messages claiming to be from the NHS offering the COVID-19 vaccine. The link that accompanies the fake text message takes you to a fake NHS website that requests personal and financial details.
This follows a national story that a 92-year-old fell victim to a conman, who on December 30, arrived at her home in London claiming to be from the NHS. He injected the unsuspecting victim with a fake vaccine, and charged her £160 for it.
Action Fraud UK has since issued a warning via social media: "In the UK, coronavirus vaccines will only be available via the NHS.
"You can be contacted by the NHS, your employer, a local GP surgery or pharmacy, to receive your vaccine. Vaccinations are free of charge and you will not be asked to pay."
Those who receive any form of text message claiming to be from the NHS should not open the link. The NHS will never ask for personal information, or for financial details.
Suspicious text messages should be forwarded to 7726 (which spells “SPAM” on the keypad). This free-of-charge short code enables your service provider to investigate the origin of the text and take action, if found to be malicious.
