Bedford residents warned of new Covid vaccination scam - here's what to look out for

The NHS has issued a warning to Bedford people, raising awareness of a Covid-19 scam.

The scam features an email posing as a fake invitation to be vaccinated, and includes a link to a website to “register” for the vaccine. However, legitimate vaccine emails require no such registration.

The fake website also asks for bank details, either to verify identification or to make a payment.

But the NHS has confirmed it would never ask for:

Your bank account or card details

Your pin or banking password

Copies of personal documents to prove your identity, such as your passport, driving licence, bills or pay slips

Throughout the whole pandemic, Covid-19 related scams have skyrocketed.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Vaccines are our way out of this pandemic.

“It is vital that we do not let a small number of unscrupulous fraudsters undermine the huge team effort under way across the country to protect millions of people from this terrible disease.”

According to NHS England, a number of people are currently serving prison sentences for Covid-19 scams from over the last year.

Medical Director for Primary Care for NHS England, GP Nikki Kanani, said: “Remember, the vaccine will always be free on the NHS. Our staff will never ask for, or accept, cash for vaccines, never ask you for your banking details or identity documents, and will never come around to your house unannounced.”

When you’re invited for a vaccine at a larger vaccination centre, or at a pharmacy, you’ll receive a letter.

If, alternatively, you’re invited to receive the vaccine at a local centre, such as a hospital or GP surgery, you’ll usually get a text or email - but you may also sometimes get a letter.

Both the National Cyber Security Centre and Action Fraud have asked anyone who has received a scam email, or text, to report it.

You can report a scam email by forwarding it to the Suspicious Email Report Service (SERS) at [email protected].

You can also forward any suspicious text messages to 7726.