chrisjpainter Posted February 8, 2021 Report Share Posted February 8, 2021 No don't worry, I've not turned green or grown antlers after mine. But something odd has happened. My partner was offered one today because of the homeless stuff we do. It came via the charity we do it through and is a genuine appointment. Anyway half an hour after the pone call she gets an email to book her vaccine slot, follows the link and...gets asked for payment. Fortunately she's not that dim (well, she lost a cup the other day. It turned up in the microwave where she'd put it 30 second before whilst making hot chocolate but that's another story) and bailed immediately, checked the email and it was a hotmail account, so clearly a scam. Whether it's a coincidence, or a hacked account somewhere along the line, I don't know, but the timing was a bit odd and the email passed a casual inspection because she was waiting for it anyway. Just a heads up really to let your more vulnerable, less spam-perceptive friends and family know that this sort of thing could happen - whether via a hack or coincidence - and reinforce the message that no payment will ever be taken and no bank cards or security details are needed! Hateful people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted February 8, 2021 Report Share Posted February 8, 2021 Scum of the earth! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam triple Posted February 8, 2021 Report Share Posted February 8, 2021 Public flogging is too good for these scum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted February 8, 2021 Report Share Posted February 8, 2021 I have heard of a lot of scams locally around vaccine appointments. It is high time some were caught and made an example of - confiscation of all assets and long jail sentence/deportation as appropriate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted February 8, 2021 Report Share Posted February 8, 2021 BBC Look North talking about 8000 of these fake messages have gone out. I hope they get hold of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted February 8, 2021 Report Share Posted February 8, 2021 I find it hard to credit that we cannot find out who is behind these and prosecute them. I appreciate GCHQ have many important tasks, but it would be nice to give one of their newer staff a little test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted February 8, 2021 Report Share Posted February 8, 2021 3 hours ago, chrisjpainter said: Anyway half an hour after the pone call she gets an email to book her vaccine slot, follows the link and...gets asked for payment Was it like this... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted February 8, 2021 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2021 2 minutes ago, henry d said: Was it like this... Yeah she said that's the one. A casual glance and it looks genuine enough, especially if you're expecting it to come through Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted February 8, 2021 Report Share Posted February 8, 2021 20 minutes ago, chrisjpainter said: Yeah she said that's the one. A casual glance and it looks genuine enough, especially if you're expecting it to come through I did, but it just didn't sit right, no name and "... basis of family genetics and medical history..." The last bit especially, other than that it looked kosher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted February 9, 2021 Report Share Posted February 9, 2021 14 hours ago, chrisjpainter said: No don't worry, I've not turned green or grown antlers after mine. But something odd has happened. My partner was offered one today because of the homeless stuff we do. It came via the charity we do it through and is a genuine appointment. Anyway half an hour after the pone call she gets an email to book her vaccine slot, follows the link and...gets asked for payment. Fortunately she's not that dim (well, she lost a cup the other day. It turned up in the microwave where she'd put it 30 second before whilst making hot chocolate but that's another story) and bailed immediately, checked the email and it was a hotmail account, so clearly a scam. Whether it's a coincidence, or a hacked account somewhere along the line, I don't know, but the timing was a bit odd and the email passed a casual inspection because she was waiting for it anyway. Just a heads up really to let your more vulnerable, less spam-perceptive friends and family know that this sort of thing could happen - whether via a hack or coincidence - and reinforce the message that no payment will ever be taken and no bank cards or security details are needed! Hateful people. What gets me is that there’s no real attempt to police or prosecute crimes of this nature. Yes they are probably too numerous, but they are too Numerous because they are so soft anyone can have a go and without fear or recrimination. Mate of mine was a manager at a major high street bank. He spotted a rogue account being filled up by victims of scams like this (say your account is taken over and then 100 people you don’t know and have never had any account activity with then send you £50, £100 or £500, we’ll it does rather jump off the page). He phones old bill and says ‘we got the bloke trying to cash out and empty the account here locked in, we’re stalling him counting the money, come quick and get him’. They said, ‘nah don’t bother, let him out, he’s ‘probably’ just been paid to empty the account’. Mate asks, ‘Don’t you want to talk to him and make enquiries?’ Nah. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted February 9, 2021 Report Share Posted February 9, 2021 Shocking really! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robden Posted February 9, 2021 Report Share Posted February 9, 2021 They should be put in a pit with hungry crocodiles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted February 9, 2021 Report Share Posted February 9, 2021 7 hours ago, Robden said: They should be put in a pit with hungry crocodiles. Well said Rob, 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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