Beware of fake emails offering an extra Covid vaccine, it's a scam to get your bank details

Spain's Office of Internet Security has warned of a new wave of fraudulent emails which appear to come from the Ministry of Health, informing the user that they have been selected for an additional dose of the Covid-19 vaccine and that it is urgent that they complete a document. The recipient of the email is asked to download a card with all their details and told they can choose the type of vaccine they would prefer by also downloading an attachment. However, the link to the attachment and the explanatory card contains a malicious file.

The emails are using the official logo of the Ministry of Health in Spain, and the text does not contain as many spelling mistakes as many ‘phishing’ attempts do, says the Office of Internet Security. However, there are some clues to look out for:

- The domain the email is sent from is not the official domain of the Ministry of Health or the Spanish government.

- The subject of the email is not real: It says !Tenemos un anuncio urgente sobre la dosis extra de vacuna! although the scammers may use something similar.

- It doesn’t address the recipient by name, only by their email address.

- There are a few typos, but not the typical spelling and punctuation mistakes that are typical of these fraudulent emails.

Anyone who receives an email like this should delete it without opening it. If they have already opened it, they should not click on any of the links otherwise the malicious program will have downloaded and be running on their device. If that is the case, the device should be checked and scanned by an antivirus program to eliminate it.

And finally, remember, all contact regarding vaccination has been by your telephone number registered with the Health Service, or through the MiCita Previa app, since the beginning of the campaign and never by email.