There are hundreds of thousands of NHS Test and Trace scams running on the internet – the latest being a fake ‘Omicron’ message which asks people to book a PCR test without paying. The NHS never asks for payment for these tests. This is a common scam that allows conmen to steal bank card details and drain victims’ bank accounts. This is a serious threat to the NHS and its customers.
The scam text claims to be from the UK Government and asks receivers to pay for a PCR related to the coronavirus. However, the URL does not link to a legitimate UK Government website. In addition to requesting payment card details, the fake website is also a phishing scheme. Don’t give out your personal information through these texts – they are a major threat to your personal safety and finances.
Scams involving the NHS are not uncommon. While these texts may appear to be from the government, it is best to remain vigilant and make sure you do not fall for these pranks. Many people fall for such phony text messages claiming to be from the NHS, when they really are not. In these cases, the scammer simply uses a fake website that tricks you to think it is a UK Government-owned website.
Another scam involving the NHS is the Covid-19 vaccination. The NHS never asks you to pay for vaccination. The scammers may ask you for your bank details, your name or social security number. Contact Tracing does not ask for your bank details or your credit card information. If you have any doubts, hang up the phone, and delete the message immediately. You can also delete the message by not opening any attachments. If you’re suspicious of a ‘Covid’ scam, don’t click on the links.
The message is not legitimate and should not be opened. Call the police and tell them you’ve received a fake ‘COVID-19 test booking’ text. This is a fake, but you can easily report it. Learn more here about the legitimate messages that the NHS sends.
The texts can easily convince you as they look similar to official government alerts. So you really need to be very careful. Firstly, check the website. The message should be from a reputable government department. If you don’t know who is behind the messages, call the bank’s fraud department, and report to police in your area or report directly to Action Fraud.
Scammers use the same technology as the public, allowing them to disguise their identities and steal your money. These sophisticated scams can corrupt your personal information or even corrupt your computer’s files. With global connectivity, fraudsters can operate from anywhere in the world and remain anonymous. By using the same technology, they can make it more difficult to detect and prevent your losses.
If you have suffered from a scam, it’s important to get help as soon as possible and the experts at Scam Help are ready to work with you. Of course it’s possible that you won’t be able to get your money back, but you deserve to exercise your rights and increase chances to recover a portion of the funds or the full amount. Equally important is the opportunity to minimize the damage and protect yourself from future losses.
