MANAMA: An alert has been issued over cyber criminals who are preying on fears of the coronavirus and sending fake text messages about booster shots to people in an attempt to steal personal and financial information.
One such message urges users to register for the jab and “reply with an ‘R’.”
Another refers to Bahrain government’s Covid-19 app, BeAware, and offers people a bogus link to update their personal information.
The Information and e-Government Authority (iGA) yesterday warned citizens and residents to be wary of ‘a new wave of text scams concerning the BeAware App.’
The Health Ministry also called on people ‘not to click on any suspicious link, respond or share any personal information’.
The GDN earlier reported that conmen were duping victims in Bahrain by gaining access to their personal details including bank accounts.
The Interior Ministry had said that fraudsters were making bogus calls, sending text messages, and even social media alerts.
The ministry´s anti-corruption and economic and electronic security director general had urged people to ignore suspicious messages or anonymous calls.
Bahrain offers a choice of Pfizer/BioNTech and Sinopharm boosters to citizens and residents aged 40 and above who have completed three months after taking the second dose of the Chinese vaccine, while others can take it after six months. The Health Ministry earlier this month reduced the waiting period to one month for most at-risk people, obese, and those suffering from immunodeficiency diseases, as well as frontline medical workers.
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