Trading Standards warning over ‘test and trace’ scammers

Published: 04 June 2020

Virus lockdown has seen an estimated 40% increase in reported doorstep, phone and email scams across Buckinghamshire, and Trading Standards say their priority is to protect residents from potential text, email and phone frauds based on the new NHS Test & Trace system.

They warn people to be wary of 'phishing' texts and emails, to 'think before you click' on a link in a text or email suggesting, for example, that someone testing positive to Covid-19 had come into contact with them and recommending a click-link for more help.

Fred Wilson, Buckinghamshire Council's Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services, said:"The important thing to remember is to always be alert”. He said although alerts from the NHS Test & Trace service could come by text, email or phone call, there was clear Government guidance as to how it works, and there was no need to give financial information as it is a free service.

Classic examples so far have ranged from emails and texts claiming you are due a refund from your TV licence, council tax or income tax, using Covid-19 as bait and providing a dodgy link, to fake texts purporting to be from the government promising a ‘relief’ payout and providing a fake link.

Other scams have involved shopping orders: facemasks that never arrive, hand sanitiser that isn't, even fake NHS lanyards for sale.

Criminals can spoof texts, making messages appear in a chain of texts alongside previous genuine messages making them look so plausible. "So as the Test & Trace scheme rolls out, the warning is to be very alert. Residents should forward dodgy-looking emails to the National Cyber Security Centre at report@phishing.gov.uk

As lockdown scams continue, Trading Standards advice to residents is:

Be sceptical, don’t be afraid to delete the email/text or put the phone down.
Take your time, don’t be rushed.
Know who you’re dealing with: if you need help, talk to someone you know or get in touch with Trading Standards advice line on 0300 123 2329
Protect your financial information, especially from people you don’t know.
Never engage with someone or allow them access unless you are able to verify their authenticity and who they are.

Residents who are being subjected to nuisance calls, can request a Truecall phone blocker from Trading Standards by emailing trading.standards@bucksandsurreytradingstandards.gov.uk

Government Test & Trace guidance
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-test-and-trace-how-it-works

Contact tracers WILL:

call you from 0300 013 5000
send you text messages from ‘NHS’
ask you to sign into the NHS test and trace contact-tracing website
ask for your full name and date of birth to confirm your identity, and postcode to offer support while self-isolating
ask about the coronavirus symptoms you have been experiencing
ask you to provide the name, telephone number and/or email address of anyone you have had close contact with in the two days prior to your symptoms starting
ask if anyone you have been in contact with is under 18 or lives outside of England

Contact tracers will NOT:

ask you to dial a premium rate (09 or 087) number to speak to them
ask you to make any form of payment or purchase a product or any kind
ask for any details about your bank account
ask for your social media identities or login details, or those of your contacts
ask you for any passwords or PINs, or ask you to set up any passwords or PINs over the phone
disclose any of your personal or medical information to your contacts
provide medical advice on the treatment of any potential coronavirus symptoms
ask you to download any software to your PC or ask you to hand over control of your PC, smartphone or tablet to anyone else
ask you to access any website that does not belong to the government or NHS