Scam Alert

[TheOstrich]

Police would like to make you aware of the following scam which has occurred over a wide area.
Users have been sent a text purporting to be from a NHS body or similar informing the user that they are entitled to a COVID-19 vaccination. They are then invited to click on a link within the text message that takes them to a web page.
This web page will ask for personal details including " card payment details"
By supplying this information personal bank accounts are being raided by the scammers.

This is a very convincing text purporting to be from the NHS.
Any genuine invitation from your GP or other NHS body for the COVID-19 vaccination will NOT ask for any payment details.
Stay Safe, Stay Home ,Stay Well and beware of this Scam

Should anyone receive similar contact, please report this to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040, or online at http://www.actionfraud.police.uk
Follow this link to the Dorset Police website for crime prevention advice - https://www.dorset.police.uk/help-advic ... tion/Email tracking gif

Message Sent By
Adrian Lowes (Dorset Police, Neighbourhood Alert Assistant, Dorset)

I'm sure none of us would fall for it, but worth bearing in mind / passing on?

[saundra]

Thank ossie in seen it on fb
Some poor souls will believe it
And get caught

[Workingman]

I'm sure none of us would fall for it, but worth bearing in mind / passing on?

It sure is, and thanks Ossie, but for anyone who is tempted or accidentally clicks the link this is what you will see....



The left side is the text message with the link and the right side is the web page it send you to.

Just get out of there and delete the text message.

Mine is just a screen grab, there are no links to anything, it's safe.

[JoM]

Thanks Ossie, I’ve warned my parents.

My Dad did have a vaccine text a month ago but I went round and checked it out for him and it linked straight to his GP surgery (and didn’t ask for any money).

[Kaz]

Thanks Ossie. It's always worth sharing these scam alerts

[Workingman]

Just a quick tip or three.

A golden rule for laptop and desktop browsers and email clients is to have the Status Bar visible when hovering over links - it is at the bottom of the screen. This tells you where you are really being redirected to. Just because the link visible in the message / email / web page says nhs.co.uk/departments.hosp does not mean that is where you are headed. If it's a scam the link you see could have been spoofed and be sending you to giveusyrmoney.ru./scam and the Status Bar will tell you so.

Unfortunately smartphones do not have this little trick so you do have to be careful.

Manually open a browser app and use a search engine for an address or type a domain name only in the address bar - nhs.uk, sky.com. bbc.co.uk for example and then do a search within the site or use the site map.

This is an example of a spoof. Hover over it and look in the Status Bar or just click, it is safe:

http://buymyhame.co.uk/

Stay safe.

[TheOstrich]

The Status Bar tip is excellent, Frank, just need to remember now to always do it ....