Another e-mail scam to beware of

[redelitev6]

   The wife got a very official looking e-mail saying that because of her family history she'd been selected to receive the vaccine jab , I told her to double check with our doctors and they told her to ignore it , supposedly your local GP surgery will either send you a letter or will ring you directly , please pass this on to anyone who you think might fall for this latest scam . I've said it before and will no doubt say it again , these people are utter scum     

[Doctor Gollum]

Mother got a letter from the NHS six days AFTER her appointment for the first jab

[STEMO]

Been doing the rounds for months.

[cam.in.head]

its just any excuse for a scam these days !
how would they pull this one off ? ask for payment or what ? ?

[TheBoy]

its just any excuse for a scam these days !
how would they pull this one off ? ask for payment or what ? ?

Sometimes information is more valuable than a few quid

[STEMO]

its just any excuse for a scam these days !
how would they pull this one off ? ask for payment or what ? ?

Sometimes information is more valuable than a few quid

A few quid and your payment details......please.

[redelitev6]

Just confirm your N.I. number ?

[TheBoy]

Just confirm your N.I. number ?

So now they have your name and NI.  That's a bloody good start to identity theft

The people running the scam will likely just sell this info in bulk on the dark web, though if its part of a large organised crime syndicate, may use it within their group.

[deviator]

Another one I've seen recently based around an item you are selling.

The buyer asks you to confirm the number they've sent to your phone. What they are actually doing is trying to reset the password on your Apple/Google account and they need you to give them the PIN.

[TheBoy]

Standard response is that any cold call/email/text is very likely a scam.

[STEMO]

I haven't had a proper scam call for ages, but I did get one earlier in the week. Managed to keep her talking for about 15 minutes before I got fed up. Cheeky cow hung up on me.

[Lizzie Zoom]

I had three calls yesterday supposedly from Amazon (yes, the usual one!!) on different international telephone numbers all with an automated voice explaining to me I had a charge being applied to my account for an order placed............"please press 1 to be put through to an operator"...................

Laughed, and put the phone down each time and blocked the numbers concerned.

They don't give up that's for sure as this is about the twelfth time I have received such a call over the last year or so. 

My daughter had the HMRC call the other day which was quickly terminated as well!

[Enceladus]

Mother got a letter from the NHS six days AFTER her appointment for the first jab

That letter could well be legit.
There are vaccination slots allocated to GP surgeries. The GP contacts you directly, usually by txt or email and occasionally snail-mail. Details are provided on how to book a slot at a limited number of supposedly more local venues.

And then there are the big vaccination centres such as the ExCel Centre and Epsom Racecourse. For these the NHS, as opposed to the GP, sends a letter inviting you to book a slot. However snail-mail only, no text or email. Trouble is that these letters are behind schedule and further delayed in the postal system. So it's entirely plausible that the NHS letter arrives after a person has already been vaccinated.

Judging by the BBC news last night it seems that the no-shows, at whatever the centre, account for up-to 20% of appointments. Probably some people book both and cherry pick the best time, but fail to cancel the unwanted appointments. That's the scandal because the no shows are delaying the roll-out and potentially wasting the vaccines.

[Doctor Gollum]

No doubts about the authenticity. Our surgery is spot on when it comes to being organised. Having the Sheriff of Sussex as one of the founding GPs helps

It was funny because it was posted after the surgery had rung to arrange her first appointment 

[TheBoy]

Laughed, and put the phone down each time and blocked the numbers concerned.

Be aware, the numbers are spoofed, so blocking them is a pointless exercise.

Some are now clever enough to use the actual numbers that belong to the company they are trying to spoof, though usually there is a telltale (like its for the wrong country for your region, or (if your phone is clever enough (most aren't)) its prefixed with INTERNATIONAL followed by a UK number).

The key is to keep off "sucker lists", and also not give your number to any company unless absolutely necessary. Oh, and keep far away from Telephone Prefernce Service.