Author: David Lacey

Covid-19 Vaccination Scam

COVID-19: VACCINE FRAUD
TOP 4 VACCINE SCAMS. PEOPLE ARE WARNED TO BE ALERT TO THESE SCAMS:
 
TEXT MESSAGES
People are asked to press a number on their keypad or to send a text message to confirm they wish to receive the vaccine, doing so is likely to result in a charge being applied to their phone bill and fraudsters collecting personal information to use again.
 
PHONE CALLS
Victims receive a phone call from a fake caller offering the vaccine for a fee or asking for bank details
 
WEBSITES
Fake URL links to convincing-looking NHS vaccine booking forms,
these look like official NHS forms and may contain some personal information already, at the end of the form it asks for their bank
details.
 
IN PERSON
Fraudsters are calling unannounced at the homes of victims by
pretending to be from the NHS to administer the vaccine there and then, in exchange for a cash payment.
 
The NHS will:
NEVER ask for payment – the vaccine is free
NEVER ask for your bank details
NEVER arrive unannounced at your home to administer the vaccine
NEVER ask you to prove your identity by sending copies of personal documents such as your passport
 
Criminals are using the COVID-19 vaccine as a way to target the
public by tricking them to hand over cash or financial details.
They are sending convincing-looking text messages letting
people know they are eligible for the vaccine or phoning people
directly pretending to be from the NHS, or local pharmacy
 
Further details on the attached COVID-19 Vaccine Fraud Leaflet

Advice about ransomware, phishing, working from home and online fraud

Avon and Somerset Police have produced some advice about ransomware, phishing, working from home and online fraud. These are the most prevalent attacks that the UK police forces are seeing right now due to the Coronavirus Pandemic.

 The documents include a quick reference guide, a presentation and a written information document, which are meant to be read together side by side, but the written document can be read separately.

 Please pass on these documents and distribute it throughout your contacts in order to remain safe and secure during this Crisis. Threat actors are increasingly targeting individuals, businesses and organisations and using the pandemic as a manipulation tool to install malware and steal personal information. The attached documents will advise the reader of the current threats and how to create a stronghold for themselves while working from home or using the internet for personal reasons.

COVID19 Advice doc

COVID19 Adivce presentation

COVID19 Quick Tips

Could you help to reduce loneliness?

The Royal Voluntary Service is currently developing a volunteer-led initiative across West Somerset and Taunton to help reduce isolation and loneliness within older people. The project – known as Community Companions – primary focus is to recruit and train small teams of volunteers to provide companion support to the most isolated within their own communities. The more local the focus the better. R V S provides all the background support, DBS’s, safeguarding, insurance and training services for the volunteers to facilitate such activity to happen safely.

They are currently looking to promote the project throughout West Somerset and Taunton. The aim would be to attract volunteers to join the project and establish a local support network that can then reach out to help the most isolated.

For further information please read the  Community Companions Guide