False Covid Text Asking Patient To Order Test Kits

360 Assurance have been notified of a text scam that has been sent to patients purporting to be from their GP practice. The text could easily be mistaken as a legitimate notification as the recipient’s mobile will show the text grouped with legitimate texts from their own GP practice.

The message advises them that they have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for Omicron and that they must order a test kit using a link within the text. The link then asks for a payment of £0.99 for postage.

Please could this information be shared with GP Practice Managers so that efforts can be made locally to make patients aware of this scam and confirm that GP  Practices would not text them in this way seeking payment for text kits.

Patients should be vigilant to avoid providing personal information such as bank details to fraudsters.