Met Police warning on potential NHS Test & Trace scams, June 2020

The Metropolitan Police Cyber Crime Unit has issued the following alert:

NHS TEST & TRACE SCAMS

This government service is extremely important in the fight against coronavirus and it’s vital the public are on board with it; however, people have concerns about the opportunity for criminals to commit scams and some scam texts are already in circulation.
NHS Test & Trace will never ask you for financial details, PINs or passwords and will never visit your home. Also, Contact Tracers will never:

Ask you to dial a premium rate number (eg those starting 09 or 087);Ask you to make any form of payment;
Ask for details of your bank account;
Ask for your social media identities, login details, or those of your contacts;
Ask for any passwords or PINs, or ask you to set up passwords or PINs over the phone;
Ask you to purchase a product;
Ask you to download software or hand over control of your PC, smartphone or tablet;
Ask you to access any website that does not belong to the Government or NHS.

Whilst it is possible for criminals to fake official phone numbers, they cannot fake official website addresses. Anyone with concerns about a phone call, text message or email in relation to Test & Trace is encouraged to check the website address provided carefully. If possible, type the official address (https://contact-tracing.phe.gov.uk) followed by unique characters given to you, directly into your browser.

If you think you have been sent a scam message, please report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/