MSE News: Fake EHIC websites shut down

phillippajordan

I have just been stupidly charged by a EHIC website and paid £14.99 for a renewal. I know it's my fault for not reading it in detail first and realizing that it was a scam but thought I would warn others!!
The website is applyehic dot org. It is free if you go directly through the NHS website!

kevhickeyuk

phillippajordan wrote: »

I have just been stupidly charged by a EHIC website and paid £14.99 for a renewal. I know it's my fault for not reading it in detail first and realizing that it was a scam but thought I would warn others!!
The website is applyehic dot org. It is free if you go directly through the NHS website!

You are not the only one, I have been twice as stupid. I applied for a card, after a month nothing arrived so i assumed i hadn't filled the form in properly or not pressed the send button, so applied AGAIN! the good news is that the card did arive after the second time, but it wasnt untill i checked my bank account that I had been charged twice at £14.99 a time. I feel really stupid for doing this and have now cancelled my debit card because I hate the thought of them having my details

redbull08

help please i didnt pay but i did put in all my details (thonot payment)
before realising this was a fake EHIC site
what should i do?
just saw this

https://www.eu-healthcard.eu/form/lost_ehic.php

scottishperson2

redbull08 wrote: »

what should i do?

Change name and move house.

Nothing you can do, looks like an indian site to me.

Also pay attention on the web, YOU are ultimately responsible for your own actions.

HINT

Lost/Stolen Card Details

Designed and developed Brickwork india

No tabs work

No contact information.

Actually no way to send the info you put in anyways.

verntern

Pathetic response 'Change name and move house'. What a sad reply to someone wanting help and constructive advice. 'You are ultimately responsible for your own actions'. 'Pay attention to the web'. If only everyone was as perfect as you?

scottishperson2 wrote: »

Change name and move house.

Nothing you can do, looks like an indian site to me.

Also pay attention on the web, YOU are ultimately responsible for your own actions.

HINT

Lost/Stolen Card Details

Designed and developed Brickwork india

No tabs work

No contact information.

Actually no way to send the info you put in anyways.

scottishperson2

verntern wrote: »

Pathetic response 'Change name and move house'. What a sad reply to someone wanting help and constructive advice. 'You are ultimately responsible for your own actions'. 'Pay attention to the web'. If only everyone was as perfect as you?

My advice was constructive. You obviously cannot see that in your obvious anger at the world in general.

You have nothing constructive to say to the questioner. You seem to think everyone else is responsible for your actions. There is NOTHING he can do but be more careful in future. Are you suggesting they continue to be as careless as they have been? Obviously you are because you mock my suggestion that they actually pay attention to what they are doing online.

Also NOTE this

Actually no way to send the info you put in anyways.

This is why you're !!!!ed I take it

verntern wrote: »

Agreed. This elderly nitwit saw this site
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
and thought it was the NHS/Government site. Looked creatively official. I have now given my Nat Ins. no. Credit card no. Name and address to a 'company' setting out to legally confuse. Lesson learned from not reading the site details properly and paid for a renewal that could have been free.

Don't take it out on me, you are responsible for your own actions.

verntern

Here is another site looking very official. Within legality because they do state that the NHIC card is free. However it is trickery in that they are offering a 'checking service' for what is a straightforward application and free service from the official NHS site. They offer various 'fast'services at increasing prices. All they do is forward applications to the free NHS Government site and nothing is faster. It's legal but don't use them. They obtain your name and address, your National Insurance number and your credit card details. I was fooled. Don't be convinced with the official sounding org. at the end of their site address.
http://europeanhealth.org.uk/

scottishperson2

verntern wrote: »

Here is another site....

You might want to read this

http://www.oft.gov.uk/OFTwork/consumer-enforcement/consumer-enforcement-completed/EHIC-cards/

Org is also just short for organization, it used to be non-profit making, nowadays it isn't.

Also posting these site names doesn't help. Some people don't read threads and just click links, someone may follow it and think its the free site.

This is the free site

https://www.ehic.org.uk/Internet/home.do

verntern wrote: »

They obtain your name and address, your National Insurance number and your credit card details.

Well yes, they sort of need that to process the EHIC. These UK sites are covered by DPA.

"EuropHealth Ltd is registered to collect personal data under the Data Protection Act 1998 for the purposes of European Health Insurance Card application services. ICO licence number: PZ2925400 "

The site mentioned above by redbull isn't and has all the hallmarks of a phishing site.

Domain: eu-healthcard

Registrant:
NOT DISCLOSED!
Visit https://www.eurid.eu for webbased whois.

Registrar Technical Contacts:

Registrar:
Name: Easyspace Limited
Website: https://www.easyspace.com

Name servers:
ns.rackspace.com
ns2.rackspace.com

Keys:

Please visit https://www.eurid.eu for more info.

mrmdm5

Just fallen for this scam myself with a website nhsehic.org.uk
Kicking myself but I thought the nhs in the web address suggested it was genuine and just assumed the rules had changed and you now paid for the card. Really worried now that I have provided my own and wifes NI no , date of birth , address and card details. How do these people get away with this??

scottishperson2

mrmdm5 wrote: »

Just fallen for this scam myself with a website nhsehic.org.uk
Kicking myself but I thought the nhs in the web address suggested it was genuine and just assumed the rules had changed and you now paid for the card. Really worried now that I have provided my own and wifes NI no , date of birth , address and card details. How do these people get away with this??

On the front page of that site

"The application verification services provided by this web site incur a small administrative charge – you can apply for a card directly from the NHSBA without charge."

This site is operated by a legit company, and they need your "NI no , date of birth , address and card details" to do the job. They are registered with the "UK Data Protection Public Register under number PZ2925400"

They get away with it because its not illegal and they follow the guidance set by the OFT. To paraphrase

Heather Clayton, Senior Director of the OFT's Consumer Group, said that while it wasn’t actually unlawful to charge consumers for a reviewing and forwarding service, anyone who offers such a service has to be very clear about the product or service they are offering, and not attempt to trick consumers into spending money to get services they don’t need or want.