Covid Passports

[MWG14]

A friend received a text message today at 5.00am asking her to apply for a Covid passport. She hadn't already got one so she followed a link to apply. The website looked genuine enough but the charge was £4.99. She didn't continue.

We both have these passports but they were free of charge. Have things changed or was this a scam message?

[bednobs]

scam

[bednobs]

ps are you in england? does she need one?

[New Judge]

She does if she wants to travel abroad.

[Redhelen72]

Scam

[MWG14]

She doesn’t need one but thought she might as well apply as they are apparently free and assumed that the NHS was nudging her in that direction.

[lankeela]

Scam, no charge for official ones.

[New Judge]

You can get an NHS Covid pass either by creating a NHS account and logging in, or using the NHS app. When you have the pass you can download and print it. If you can't do any of that you can apply for an NHS Covid letter, which serves the same purpose. You can do this online or by phone. All these services are free. I have my pass on my phone and in printed form (the latter being more useful during my recent trip abroad). Mrs NJ and I also applied online for the NHS Covid letter (belt and braces). It took four or five days to arrive.

The pass you download expires after 30 days and you need to download it again to extend it. The letter version has no expiry date.

[knockavacca]

NEVER FOLLOW ANY LINKS

[Stickybottle]

Scam
I had a very official looking email
It sent me to a link where I had to put in bank details to confirm my identity
I reported it immediately

[Khandro]

In Germany, everyone is issued by their doctor with an injection pass book 'Impfbuch' in which every injection one has, is entered - 'flu, tetanus etc. invaluable for medics to know what you've had & what needs renewing. Nobody sees anything wrong with that, including me. My two covid injections were duly added to mine and when I was in France last week I was able to show it as evidence in restaurants & shops etc. when required, no problem!

Why are the resident Brits making a fuss about having such a a useful device?

[ichkeria]

The Covid passport debate is surreal.
And no doubt has contributed to scams like the above.
We already have them, and have had for months.
There seems to be a disconnect in people's brains between the status quo and a mythical "passport".
The only issue is how broadly they should be applied. And how to deal with exemptions.

[Vagus]

Which resident Brits? I don’t know anyone making a fuss.

[maggiebee]

Tried to go through the NHS Scotland website to apply for a Covid passport. That wasn't a problem, but when I was told I was number 38 in the queue I hung up. Will try again.

[Khandro]

vagus;
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/229153/vaccine-passports-linked-covid-19-vaccine-hesitancy/

[Thisoldbird]

I've had a few of those. When I clicked on it a red alert came up as could be suspicious!!

I don't trust it .

[bednobs]

khandro, that article doesnt say that uk residents are making a fuss about vaccine passprts -just that they did the study in uk and israel because at the time they were highly vaccinated countries

[Vagus]

Interesting reading khandro, not sure it tells the whole story though...

[Trayc5]

Scam

[Peter Pedant]

scam
there is a warning abou them somewhere

[Khandro]

vagus; I've read many people objecting to them, usually on similar lines to identity cards, I'm not an authority, I just googled that one, there are plenty of other sources.
There's a terrible paranoia about such things in the UK, fearing 'Big Brother', but the reality is that we are all watched & have been for a long time, every time you use your phone or walk down the street.