Fife residents warned over contact tracing scam calls

Fifers are being warned to be aware of scammers pretending to be contact tracers and asking for payment for Covid-19 tests.

The warning comes at a time when NHS Test and Protect teams are currently calling people who have either tested positive for coronavirus, or been in close contact with someone who has, in a bid to help the country control the spread of the virus.

However there have been reports of fraudsters calling people at home pretending to be a contact tracer and asking for payment or bank details for a test to be completed.

Now NHS Fife are warning people about the scammers and say a genuine contact tracer will never ask for payment or bank details as the Covid-19 tests are free.

A spokesman for NHS Fife said: “Test and Protect is a Scottish Government public health approach to help limit the spread of COVID-19 within the community.

“It puts into practice a ‘test, trace, isolate, support’ strategy and the service was launched in Fife last month.

“If you have tested positive for COVID-19 or been in close contact with someone else who has, you will receive a telephone call from a contact tracer who will introduce themselves and state clearly that they are calling from the NHS Fife Public Health department; explain the reason for the contact; address you by your name; ask for details of people you have come into contact with, in a relevant time period and inform you that you will receive further information by email with advice on isolation and the support available (if you don’t have access to email, they may ask for your home address so this information can be delivered to you by post).

“If you feel any suspicion when you receive a Test and Protect call, ask the Contact Tracer for the switchboard contact number which should be given as 01592 643 355 extension 29121. You can then hang up, dial the number yourself and asking to be reconnected with the Contact Tracer who has been dealing with you.”

They advise that a genuine contact tracer will not: ask for personal information such as bank details or medical records; try to sell you anything or ask for payment of any kind; tell you the identity of the person who is infected; ask you to go online to download something by clicking on a link; ask you to set up a pin number; ask for social media login details or ask for remote access to your computer.

The follow up email after a genuine call should come from an nhs.net email address.

Any potential contact tracing scams should be reported to Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 800 9060 or advice.scot and if you realise you have been the victim of a fraud, report it to Police Scotland by calling 101 as soon as possible.

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