Scammers are targeting the public in Scotland with fake emails urging them to pay to register for the Covid-19 jab.
The NHS has this week urged people not to sign up for invitations to have the coronavirus vaccination.
Instead people are advised to send details of any suspicious emails they receive to a national scam reporting service.
The scam email includes a link to register for the vaccine, but no registration for the real vaccination is required.
The fake site also asks for bank details either to verify identification or to make a payment.
Gordon Young, Head of Counter Fraud Services at NHS Scotland, said: “During the Covid-19 pandemic, NHSScotland has been under increasing pressure and this includes the NHS and its staff being the target of new frauds.
These frauds are also aimed at members of the public. It is totally unacceptable that at a time of a national health crisis, unscrupulous individuals would attempt to take advantage of the health service and the public.”
As the Covid-19 vaccination is being rolled out across Scotland, NHSScotland Counter Fraud Services have seen a spike in associated scams, including asking people to pay to book their vaccinations. It is vitally important that members of the public know that the NHS will never:
- Ask for, or accept, cash for vaccines
- Ask for your banking details or identity documents
- Email you to arrange your COVID-19 vaccination
- Turn up at your residence unannounced
If you receive an email like this, you can forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk and also report to Crimestoppers dedicated COVID fraud team on the below link:
https://forms.theiline.co.uk/crimestopperscovidfraudhotline
