Scam warning as people pay fraudsters for vaccine passport which is free on NHS - How to get genuine COVID pass

Holidaymakers are being warned to beware of a scam charging them to obtain a free NHS vaccine ‘passport’.
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The NHS COVID Pass lets anyone who has had both jabs prove they have had a full course of the COVID-19 vaccine when travelling abroad.

The national Neighbourhood Watch network has put out a warning to anyone planning to apply for a pass not to fall for an online scam which has been reported to them.

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The organisation said: “We have been made aware of a Covid Vaccine Passport scam email going around that purports to be from the NHS and informs recipients that they can apply for their ‘Digital Coronavirus Passports’. Clicking on the link within the email takes you to a convincing but fake NHS website that asks for personal and payment details.”

The scam is circulating on-lineThe scam is circulating on-line
The scam is circulating on-line

Vaccine status records which can be used as a so-called vaccine passport are available free from the NHS.

How to get your free NHS COVID Pass

The Pass is available in digital or paper format two weeks after your second dose if you were vaccinated in England and are aged 16 or over.

Your NHS appointment card from vaccination centres cannot be used to demonstrate your COVID-19 vaccine status.

Holidaymakers are being warned not to fall for the Covid passport scamHolidaymakers are being warned not to fall for the Covid passport scam
Holidaymakers are being warned not to fall for the Covid passport scam
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To access your pass, use the free NHS App – which is a different app to the NHS COVID-19 test and trace app – on a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet.

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In the NHS App, your COVID-19 status includes a 2D barcode. Any expiry date shown refers only to the barcode and will update automatically each time you go into the NHS App.

You can view your COVID-19 status online and download or print it as a PDF document. To access the service, you’ll need to register for an NHS login if you do not have one already. NHS login registrations may take longer than usual when there are high numbers of requests.

You can also request an NHS COVID Pass letter to be posted to you if you fit the above criteria and are planning to travel in the next four weeks.

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You can ask for a letter by filling in a form online or calling 119 and it should arrive within five working days.

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