NHS Is The Most Phished Government Organisation

Uploaded on 2023-01-18 in FREE TO VIEW, BUSINESS-Services-Health & Welfare

Cyber security experts have recently revealed the top six government impersonation scams they have removed from the Internet in 2022 as they urged the public to remain vigilant to cyber crime in 2023. The scams unveiled by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of GCHQ, included phishing emails and messages from cyber criminals impersonating well-known HMG brands, such as the NHS, HMRC and Ofgem.  

The National Health Service in the UK is the highest on the list of the government organisations most frequently impersonated in email scams, according to the NCSC.

Scams targeting the NHS come in various forms, including phishing emails and SMS messages. These scams often involve fake websites or emails requesting personal information or donations, claiming to be from the NHS or other trusted organisations.

The impact of these scams can be significant, as individuals may lose money or have their personal information compromised.

The report uses findings from the popular Suspicious Email Reporting Service, which received 6.4 million reports last year. The reporting service resulted in the takedown of roughly 67,300 phishing scams. In the spots after the NHS for most frequently impersonating government organisations was TV Licensing, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), Gov.uk, Driver and Vehicle License Agency (DVLA), and energy regulator Ofgem.

NCSC said it saw scammers exploit the rising cost of living with scams connected to Ofgem energy bill support and HMRC tax rebates, and that they continued to take advantage of the coronavirus pandemic to attempt PCR tests scams. Cyber criminals often seek to exploit topical events to make their phishing attempts more convincing.

In 2022, the NCSC saw scammers exploit the rising cost of living with Ofgem energy bill support scams, and Ofgem has spoken out about the phishing schemes, stating that protecting customer was its top priority. The energy regulator also asked energy suppliers to ensure that clear and up to date information on scams is accessible via their respective websites.

Scammers also took advantage of interest in COVID-19 PCR tests last year to lure victims to their phishing pages, as well as HMRC tax rebate scams, the NCSC said.

NCSC: UKAuthorITy: Oodaloop: Infosecurity Magazine: Information Security Buzz:

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