Covid scammers have fleeced Brits out of £21million by cashing in on pandemic fears.
Over 4,500 COVID-related fraud and cyber crimes, with 65 cases relating directly to the vaccine, have been reported to the police Action Fraud centre.
They include a 92-year-old woman who was tricked out of £160 for a fake jab at her home in Surbiton, South West London.
Scammers are also sending text messages claiming to be from the NHS, offering victims the opportunity to sign up for the jab.
A link then takes the recipient to an online form where they are prompted to provide personal and financial details, which are then used to plunder bank accounts.
Amber Burridge of the fraud prevention service CIFAS said: “Criminals know that people are desperate for the vaccine and are willing to pay for it.
“There will always be someone there to find the vulnerabilities of any given situation and take advantage of it, and that’s what we’re seeing now.”
Ben Russell, deputy director of the National Crime Agency, said: “This type of organised crime is immoral and there are no limits to the extent that criminals will go to exploit people’s suffering and fear to make money.
“Where there’s fear, there is fraud.”
Pauline Smith, head of Action Fraud, said: “The vaccine is only available on the NHS and is free.
“If you receive an email, text message or phone call purporting to be from the NHS and you are asked to provide financial details, this is a scam.”
