Possible Scam Alert

Kazblack0

Hi all, not sure whether to put this under Coronavirus or Insurance, but it's kinda related to both.  A possible scam to be aware of.  I've just received a call to my mobile where the guy introduced himself as calling from the National Health Service about my COVID vaccine.  He started off saying can I check that our records are correct, that you have indeed had both doses of  your COVID vaccine?  I said yes, I have.  He asked if I'd had any side effects at the time, to which I replied a bad headache but nothing major.  He then went on to say you'll have seen the government has announced they will be calling people for a third dose of the vaccine ?  Yes.  Note - all reasonable questions so far that would appear reasonable.  He then went on to ask if I had a valid life or medical insurance policy (alarm bells ringing now), to which I said "I don't see what that has to do with anything".  He went on that the government are going to be announcing that you will be entitled to a 30% discount on life insurance after you have had your third dose of the vaccine.  Erm, bells ringing really loudly now, so I said, this is sounding more and more like a scam to sell life insurance so I'm going to hang up.  No ma'am, the National Health Service doesn't sell life insurance, I'm just making you aware that after your third dose of the vaccine you will be entitled to a discount.  I said yeah, right, I'm not buying this, I'm going to hang up.  He said, so you're not interested in receiving any kinds of discounts or benefits after your vaccine?  So clearly, definitely a scam.  I politely said I'm definitely hanging up now, goodbye.  
So - with everyone already suffering financial hardship as a result of the last 18 months, I'm just sharing a to make everyone aware of a possible scam going round.  If any government officials can comment that it's legit, I'll happily eat my words, but I don't think governments usually fund insurance discounts....

Brie

There are so many reptilian types out there willing to take advantage of people.  

I got a "this is a survey, we're not selling anything" call again this week.  Chap mumbled his name and asked if I was <my name>.  I responded by asking who he was.  "Mumblemumble. Is this <my name>?"  I said that before I answered any questions I needed to know who I was talking to.  "Mumblemumble...is this...."  And I asked again who was calling.  Chap had the nerve to get cranky, said I was rude and was wasting his time!    Oh well, saved me hanging up on him!

superbigal

Hardly a scam as opposed to a creative cold caller.
Think of good answers.
My last to having had an accident in the last 2 years was after stringing them along, that yes I was drunk and killed 7 children.  
What compo was I due.
Hung up 

michaeladams

Yeah, I agree with Brie. All we can do is just keep spreading the word, especially to our family. I still read hundreds of reports regarding similar insurance related phone scams at complaint boards like phonebook.ai.

MalMonroe

I just do not answer my phone if I do not recognise a number.

If I know the caller they can leave me a message. In fact anyone can leave me a message on either landline or mobile and I can go through them and decide if they are worth bothering with or not.

And I would definitely have hung up waaaaay before you did, without any warning that I was going to do so. You are very polite. 

MalMonroe

superbigal said:

Hardly a scam as opposed to a creative cold caller.
Think of good answers.
My last to having had an accident in the last 2 years was after stringing them along, that yes I was drunk and killed 7 children.  
What compo was I due.
Hung up 

It is definitely a scam when someone pretends to be from a large, well known organisation but clearly isn't. Cold calling (whether creative or not) is something completely different.