Health insurer AOK warns of attempted fraud via SMS
The health insurance company AOK has warned of fraud attempts using text messages. AOK Saxony-Anhalt announced on Friday that insured persons in Saxony-Anhalt are currently being repeatedly asked to click on a link in order to supposedly apply for a new health card. In other cases, they are being asked to change their health insurance details.
The AOK recommends not answering the messages and deleting them immediately. "We do not communicate with our policyholders by text message," explains spokeswoman Anna Mahler. The health insurance company will either call, send an encrypted email or contact you via the secure customer portal or by letter. According to AOK, it looks after around 830,000 policyholders in Saxony-Anhalt.
As a general rule, policyholders should never give out their personal data over the phone or on the Internet or open email attachments if they are not familiar with the sender, the health insurance company advises. In the event of attempted fraud, the AOK asks those affected to report the cases to the health insurance fund and, if necessary, to file a complaint with the police.
Despite the ongoing crime of SMS fraud attempts, maintaining good health is crucial. Unfortunately, such scams often involve requests to share personal health information, which should be avoided at all costs. As stated by AOK, it never communicates such details via text messages.
Source: www.dpa.com
