NHS Test and Trace scams:
The NHS Test and Trace service plays an important role in the fight against coronavirus and it’s vital the public have confidence and trust in the service. However, we understand the concerns people have about the opportunity for criminals to commit scams.
What you need to know:
Contact tracers will only call you from the number 0300 013 5000. Anyone who does not wish to talk over the phone can request the NHS Test and Trace service to send an email or text instead, inviting them to log into the web-based service.
All text or emails sent by NHS Test and Trace will ask people to sign into the contact tracing website and will provide you with a unique reference number. We would advise people to type the web address https://contact-tracing.phe.gov.uk directly into their browser, followed by the unique reference number given to you, rather than clicking on any link provided in the message.
Contact tracers will:
· ask for full name and date of birth to confirm identity, and postcode to offer support while self-isolating
· ask about the coronavirus symptoms
· ask people to provide the name, telephone number and/or email address of anyone they have had close contact with in the two days prior to symptoms starting
· ask if anyone they have been in contact with is under 18 or lives outside of England
The NHS Test and Trace service will never:
ask you to dial a premium rate number to speak to them (for example, those starting 09)
ask you to make any form of payment or purchase a product or any kind
ask for any details about your bank account
ask for your social media identities or login details, or those of your contacts
ask you for any passwords or PINs, or to set up any passwords or PINs over the phone
ask you to download any software to your PC or ask you to hand over control of your PC, smartphone or tablet to anyone else
ask you to access any website that does not belong to the government or NHS
If you think you have been a victim of fraud, please report it to Action Fraud at https://www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.
Nikki Rycroft · Wed 17 Jun 2020, 12:35 · Link