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NHS Test and Trace: How to tell if it’s real or a scam
Jun 09, 2020
NHS Test and Trace phishing emails are being sent by scammers, the fake email refers to the service as
‘track and trace’. The email advises the recipient that they have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for coronavirus. They are instructed to click on a link in order to find out who that person is and are warned that if they fail to do so within 24 hours, legal action may be taken and their benefits suspended. The email address from which this message is being sent is ‘alert@nhstrackandtrace233-gov.com’.
Remember, contact tracers will never ask you to:
- Dial a premium rate number to speak to them (for example, those starting 09 or 087).
- Make any form of payment.
- Give any details about your bank account.
- Give your social media identities or login details, or those of your contacts.
- Disclose passwords or pins.
- Create any passwords or pins.
- Purchase a product.
- Download any software to your device.
- Hand over control of your PC,, smartphone or tablet.
- Access any website that does not belong to the government or NHS.
For more information read this article from Which.co.uk
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In a world of 24/7 social media, and apps for everything from flights to coffee’s, oversharing personal information online affects more of us than we might think. Whether you’ve shared a seemingly innocent photo of your dog, a video of you supporting your favourite team, or you’ve unwittingly given away details of your banking or passport details, you could be revealing information that is invaluable to a fraudster or identity thief. There is increasing evidence that employee’s over-sharing personal information on social media platforms can enable or facilitate fraud against their employer; businesses like yours!
SAFE are proud to be in their seventh year as official supporters of International Fraud Awareness Week (IFAW) 2023. This years event takes place from 12-18 November but you don't need to wait until #fraudweek to be a fraud fighter. We've got lots of great tips and advice here and we'll add more as we approach #fraudweek so make sure you keep checking back here. Be sure to like and follow our LinkedIn and X accounts to stay up-to-date with the very latest fraud prevention advice. Fraud and cyber crime account for over 40% of all estimated crime in England and Wales, affecting more people, more often, than any other crime. The social and economic cost to individuals is estimated to be in excess of £4.7 billion a year. The more aware we all are about fraud, the less likely we are to fall victim to it.
53% of all fraud reports made directly to the NHS Counter Fraud Authority (NHS CFA) in 2022-23 related to NHS staff fraud . The NHS CFA estimate that £22.5m of public money is vulnerable to fraud as a result. One particular type of NHS staff fraud that continues to persist is known as ‘working whilst sick’ fraud. This is where an employee is absent from their NHS position due to illness but starts working, or continues to work, for another employer. This type of fraud is not confined to the NHS, businesses across many different sectors will fall victim and suffer financial losses and associated costs as a result.
