New scam offering Covid-19 vaccine passport targets Australian phone users

Australians who receive the scam message are urged not to open the link and just delete the message, due to a security threat.

Fully vaccinated Australians are being urged to watch out for a scam message claiming to contain a link to a vaccine passport.

Scamwatch, a subsidiary of the ACCC, has issued a warning about the messages, which are designed to steal personal information but are disguised as an offering to a digital passport.

An example of the kind of scam message reads “your digital version of Covid-19 passport is available”, alongside a web link.

Receivers are urged not to open the link, and delete the message.

As #COVID19 restrictions start to ease for vaccinated people in some parts of Australia, beware of scams relating to vaccine passports. These can look convincing but are a #scam designed to steal your personal info. If you receive a message like this, just delete it! pic.twitter.com/xF82DRm6Zv

— Scamwatch_gov_au (@Scamwatch_gov) August 30, 2021

“They can look convincing, but they are a scam,” Scamwatch said on social media.

“If you receive a message like this, just delete it.”

Vaccination passports have been suggested by state and federal governments as a measure to be used as restrictions ease further around the country, with fully vaccinated people set to enjoy more freedoms than those who have not been jabbed.

Fully vaccinated Australians who wish to store their immunisation status on their smart phones can do so through the Medicare app.

Originally published as New scam offering Covid-19 vaccine passport targets Australian phone users