NHS Test and Trace scam

Posted on September 29th, 2020

People are pretending to be from NHS Test and Trace informing you that you’ve been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus and advising that you need to have a test. They say that they need your card details as you have to pay for the test. This is not true. The NHS tests for coronavirus are free. If you get a genuine email, text or call from NHS Test and Trace they will never ask you to pay for a test or for your bank/card details.

Emails and text messages have been sent out to people in England by the government asking people to download the test and trace app.  Should any patient raise concerns about receiving such a message you can assure them that there is existing law which allows confidential patient information to be used and shared appropriately and lawfully in a public health emergency.   Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there is a requirement for public bodies to share relevant personal data to protect against serious threats to public health.   This is covered under GDPR Article 9(2)(i) – the processing is necessary for reasons of public interest in the area of public health and DPA 2018 – Schedule 1, Part 1, Section 3 – public health purposes.

More information including a link to the test and trace privacy notice which contains the legal basis is available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/nhs-covid-19-app-emails-and-sms-messages