NHS Passport Scam

[SheffieldJane]

Very credible looking email plopped into my in-box offering me either a digital or a hard copy travel passport, based on the fact that I had, had 2 vaccines. There is a questionnaire when you click on accepting the offer that supplies the scammers with a lot of very useful personal data. Fortunately my husband stopped me. The explanatory blurb was not quite right in referring to the Pandemic spreading “all over the “block”. Apart from that, the email looked like other NHS communications. I am not sure if I have compromised my IPad by clicking on the initial link. A similar one is doing the rounds offering vaccines. This one is collecting mobile numbers. The then phone you, purporting to be from your bank and thereby relieving you of your money.

I usually report scam emails to the government report phishing address. This email has managed to block this.

[Kendrew]

Thanks for the 'heads up.

[yorkieme]

It seems more and more of this type of scam email/txt are landing in our inbox,it has been suggested that the increase might be down to Covid related issues but I don't buy that.It doesn't take much to fall into the trap,a split second lack of concentration for example or even a nagging doubt ignored.

Recently I checked online about changing my address on my passport/driving licence/log book etc,as we have recently moved. Normally I check a website for it's security approval but on this day I believed it was the genuine DVLA HMRC website so happily clicked away ................. £80 loss later ????? I had actually paid this website owner £80 to do what I could have done free. All the way through completing the online forms it felt wrong, somehow not quite right but in a rush I ignored my inner warnings and bingo.

Well done you for avoiding this one.

[Suffererc in reply to yorkieme]

Been caught too with the E111. Paid £50 when I knew they were free. Wasn’t so much a scam as a rip off. Did get an E111 from them tho and fraud said they were just greedy

[Suet3942 in reply to Suffererc]

Me too. A few years ago

[Highlandtiger]

There are despicable people about...

When you say it blocked you reporting it do you mean it wouldn’t allow you to forward it? Could you maybe screenshot the email and forward that instead?

[SheffieldJane]

That’s a good idea! I received one of those messages from the postmaster - unable to deliver. They are getting very cute.

[Hoofprints]

Thank you for letting us all know. Three cheers for your hubby 👍👍

[Charlie1boy]

Yes, I’ve had this email too!

Paddy

[HeronNS]

Even if you moved the email into your spam or junk file, would you still not get the option to report as phishing?

[SheffieldJane]

I destroyed every trace of it in a panic. Normally I forward dodgy emails to the gov U.K. phishing email address and they send me a stock reply about their progress in countering this kind of fraud. This one was clever though. Things have moved up a notch. One word gave them away. block.

[HeronNS in reply to SheffieldJane]

Ah, I see. I simply use the feature in my e-mail these days. I remember some years ago sending on scam e-mails to Paypal so probably something similar to what you've been doing. (Eventually I just deleted my PayPal account as it was too stressful, now I know everything I get from them isn't legit. Of course you can't exactly leave your health care system!) But in my junk folder now it's really easy to report phishing, so that's what I do. This sounds like a very devious plot and hopefully your media will pick up on it quickly and tell the whole country to beware. No doubt something similar will land here eventually but with all the quibbling amongst the provinces no one has any proof of vaccination except a confirmation e-mail, so there's nothing for a scammer to work with - we have nothing to apply for yet and with so many independent jurisdictions the scammers will look for lower hanging fruit first. Still, thanks to your post, I will be very aware this is likely to happen as soon as some sort of agreement is reached. Oh, and run your virus check if you're concerned, if you haven't already.

[Marijo1951 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Best not to let them know that American terms don't work in the UK. They're clever enough already!

A few years ago (before smartphones) an American couple asked me directions. I gave them as best as I could and the woman said 'How many blocks is it?' I thought about it and had to say the notion of 'blocks' doesn't really work in London.

[piglette]

If you want a genuine one go here gov.uk/guidance/nhs-covid-pass

[SheffieldJane]

Thanks piglette. I will go through this carefully when I feel more awake.

[Bennijax]

Thank you

[Megams]

~Bring back the "stocks" I say - what satisfaction there is hurling rotten eggs at such monsters.The world is in such a disarray without these creatures!! ~

[petros31]

The NHS app is excellent with vax details, medical history etc, medications and more. Recommend taking a look at what is offered.

[SheffieldJane in reply to petros31]

Thank you I will.

[Trulyscrumpious]

I avoided a scam just in time. They invited you to see if you had won a free mobile. You had three tries and on the last one it said l had won it. THEN l was to fill in my bank details to cover the cost of postage of £1! I suppose enough people fall for it to make it worthwhile. If something seems too good to be true, it usually is.

[Jocelyn344]

Thank you for the warning. There are also ones that congratulate you on winning a new iPhone/Dyson cleaner. Then ask for a small payment on your bank card. Delete and make sure it has been removed from your Trash folder too.

[SheffieldJane]

Yes I have had a run of “good luck” too, topped off with a large tax rebate. Let’s agree to delete them all. After forwarding them to [e-mail]. uk for resident Brits. or Brit residents.