There have been suggestions that scammers could use the NHS test and trace service as a method of obtaining personal or financial information from victims.
This scam is a form of number spoofing. This involves scammers making it look like that they’re calling from a different number to the one they’re actually using. In this case, the number they may try to mimic to hide their real identity is the test and trace number - 0300 0135 000.
Phone companies are working hard to make it difficult for scammers to make these calls, but here’s some information that you might find useful.
Of course, it’s important that if you receive a genuine call from the test and trace service, you should be able to trust it and act on the information you’re being given.
So, here’s some advice on what to expect from a genuine test and trace call.
The only website the service will ask you to visit is https://contact-tracing.phe.gov.uk.
On a genuine call, contact tracers will never:
This information is relevant to England. For information relating to the various testing programmes in the other nations, please find links to the relevant websites below.
If you receive a call from somebody claiming to be from the NHS, and they ask you to do any of these things, hang up and report the call: