The police and trading standards are concerned that fraudsters will try and exploit the new Test and Trace system and get people to click on links or pass over information they shouldn’t.
Make sure you are in contact with the right people
Genuine Contact Tracers will initially contact you by sending a text messages from ‘NHS’, calling you from 0300 013 5000 or by email.
They will ask:
- that you sign into the NHS test and trace contact-tracing website
- your full name and date of birth to confirm your identity, and postcode to offer support while self-isolating
- about any coronavirus symptoms you have been experiencing
- you to provide the name, telephone number and/or email address of anyone you have had close contact with in the two days prior to your symptoms starting
- if anyone you have been in contact with is under 18 or lives outside of England
They will never:
- try and get you to dial a premium rate (09 or 087) number to speak to them
- ask you to make any form of payment or purchase a product or any kind
- try and get you to download any software to your PC or ask you to hand over control of your PC, smartphone or tablet
- ask you to access any website other than https://contact-tracing.phe.gov.uk
- ask any details about your bank account
- ask you for any passwords or a PIN
- try and get you to set up any passwords or PIN over the phone
- ask for your social media identities or login details, or those of your contacts
- offer any medical advice on the treatment of any potential coronavirus symptoms
If you suffer from fraud as the result of any such scams then please report it through the Action Fraud website.
If you can, please forward any fraudulent, or phishing, emails or details to the National Cyber Security Centre.