New Year, New Scams

We haven't written much on this part of the website recently as pretty much all the information we have is on the dedicated Coronavirus page which gets regularly updated (and the Hall is closed for the foreseeable).
But there has been a recent development regarding phone and email scams and this one is about the Covid-19 vaccine. There is a text message going round telling the recipient that they are eligible for the vaccine and then asking for bank details in order to "verify your address". This is NOT from the NHS and should be disregarded. The vaccine is free. The NHS (like HMRC, DVLA and a host of other government organisations NEVER ask for bank details).
Often in scams there is a spelling or grammar error (there is on this one) and if it is an email scam, while it may look official if you check on the sender's address it is either a hijacked personal email address or very fake looking. If you are still in doubt, try and call the organisation but DO NOT phone the number on the text from your mobile if you got a text, reply directly to the email or click on any link given in the text/email. Use a landline if you have one or come out of your email account and separately go via google to the official website.
Hey ho, Happy New Year. See you on the other side....