Contact Tracing Scams
The CTSI has this week reported a scam text which was sent to a Scottish consumer, saying that a ‘COVID Home Testing Team’ will visit your homes at a specified date and time.
It goes on to say that the team will enter your property and that you will need to wait in a separate room while they put on protective clothing.
This is an attempt by fraudsters to gain entry to your home. Scottish consumers also continue to report scam calls linked to NHS Scotland's Test and Protect service, including cold callers claiming to be from the NHS who try to obtain bank details and payment for testing kits.
If you are suspicious about the identity of a caller, hang up and call your local NHS switchboard. They will be able to verify whether a call is genuine.Remember that genuine contact tracers will NEVER ask for financial details or payment for goods or services.
Find out more about recognising a contact tracing scam and a list of the official NHS contact numbers which you can phone to verify a caller's identity on our website. Get information about contact tracing in Scotland from official sources: NHS Scotland, the Scottish Government or Public Health Scotland.
Report contact tracing scams to Advice Direct Scotland. If you have been the victim of a fraud, report it to Police Scotland on 101.
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, scammers have been keeping up to date with the latest developments. Now, with the launch of NHS Scotland’s Test and Protect service, consumers are being warned to be wary of fraudsters posing as contact tracers.
There have been reports from Scottish consumers about cold callers who say that you have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19 and ask you to pay £500 to take a test
Genuine contact tracers will:
Introduce themselves and state the reason for their call
Address you by your name
Ask for details of people you have come into contact with, in a relevant time period
Inform you that you will receive further information by email with advice on isolation and the support available (if you don’t have access to email, they may ask for your home address so this information can be delivered to you by post)
They will NOT:
Ask you for any financial information such as bank or credit card details
Ask for details of medical records
Try to sell you anything or ask for payment for a test
Ask you to set up a PIN or download anything
Ask for your social media details
Ask for remote access to your computer
Genuine contact tracers will give you a number that you can call to verify their identity. More NHS boards have published contact numbers that people can phone to confirm that a contact tracing call is genuine. Where a specific contact number has not been published, you should contact the main switchboard of your local NHS board – find their contact details here. Contact numbers currently available are:
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde: 0141 228 9900
NHS Grampian: 01224 558795
NHS Fife: 01592 643 355 (extension 29121)
Get information about contact tracing in Scotland from official sources: NHS Scotland, the Scottish Government or Public Health Scotland.
Report contact tracing scams to Advice Direct Scotland. If you have been the victim of a fraud, report it to Police Scotland on 101.