By Police issue warnings over Test and Trace scams
Test and Trace was launched last Thursday, but similarly to in the early stages of the coronavirus outbreak, Police are already warning the public to be vigilant of Test and Trace scams operating nationwide.
The aim of the scheme is to provide more targeted measures as lockdown restrictions begin to ease.
Anybody who has symptoms of coronavirus in England can now request a test for Covid-19 via Test and Trace.
If the test comes back as negative, you and your household can go back to normal.
But if comes back positive, the NHS Test and Trace team will instruct you to isolate and get in touch to discuss who else you have come into close contact with.
Close contact means anybody you have spent more than 15 minutes with, at a distance of less than 2m.
Those considered at risk will be instructed to isolate for 14 days, whether they have contracted coronavirus or not, but they will only be tested if they develop symptoms.
But already, police forces, including Humberside Police, have issued advice on how to identify and avoid falling victim to scammers.
NHS Test and Trace have said that they may contact people via email, text or phone.
If they call you by phone, the number will only ever show as 03000135000.
They will never ask you to visit a website other than https://contact-tracing.phe.gov.uk.
Contact tracers will also never ask you to dial a premium rate number to speak to them, request any form of payment or ask for any details about your bank account.
You will never be asked for personal information such as your social media identities or login details, or those of your contacts, or any passwords or PINs, or ask you to set up any passwords or PINs over the phone.
NHS Test and Trace do not sell products such as Covid-19 testing kits, so you will never be asked to purchase one.
Nor will they request that you download any software to your device or ask you to hand over control of your PC, smartphone or tablet.
Anybody with symptoms of coronavirus can book a test through Test and Trace online, or by calling 119.
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