With that comes risks through online scams such as phishing scams and social engineering to get your information. Action Fraud have said that scams involving the virus have already claimed more than £5million from victims.
There are a few ways the fraudsters have used the public health services system to their advantage. One way they do this is via phishing emails, which impersonate the NHS and email you saying you have been in contact with someone with the virus with a link to put your details in.
Another way that this has happened is through spoofing – this is where scammers replicate telephone numbers allowing them to impersonate genuine companies/organisations so that the can steal personal information – including bank details and/or get people to send them money under false pretences.
If you receive a phone call claiming to be from the NHS that you find suspicious, ask for an e-mail or a text instead. The message received should direct you to: https://contact-tracing.phe.gov.uk
Now the link provided should be exactly as shown as some scammers will create similar web addresses to fool you into believing its legitimacy.
If it was an email or text you received, check through standard procedures like the name it’s addressed to spelling or grammar mistakes and verify if the from email address or number looks legitimate the link should also be the exact same link shown.