Andorran Police Warn of WhatsApp Phishing Scam Posing as Health Ministry for COVID Booster

Andorran police have issued warnings about a phishing scam spreading on WhatsApp, where fraudsters impersonate the Ministry of Health to promote a supposed fifth Covid-19 booster dose and steal personal data or hijack mobile phones.

The scam typically involves messages claiming to offer a new vaccine dose, requesting details like email addresses, phone numbers or home addresses to "qualify." Victims then receive an SMS verification code, which scammers demand to gain access to their devices or accounts. Some reports describe follow-up phone calls providing personal details to build trust before seeking the code; if information is withheld, the call ends abruptly.

Police noted the alert has circulated massively on WhatsApp, shared by individuals and their own social media accounts. A post from @andorra_policia on February 20, 2026, stated: "This message is circulating massively on WhatsApp. In Andorra so far, we have no record of any fraudulent calls related to Covid vaccines. If you receive such a call, do not give any data and notify us immediately. Health does not make these kinds of calls."

Despite reports from several people, authorities have confirmed no actual fraudulent calls or incidents linked to Covid vaccines in the Principality. The Ministry of Health received notifications but holds no records of related activity. It conducts vaccination campaigns solely through official channels like social media, posters, family doctors and primary care centres, never via unsolicited messages, calls or requests for sensitive data.

Police urged residents to avoid sharing SMS codes or personal information, alert family and friends, and contact official channels directly for verification. They stressed vigilance against such tactics increasingly common on social networks.