Coronavirus Testing Scams

We are no longer operational, FVK closed down operations on Monday 31 August 2020.

This page was last updated on Monday 31st August 2020.

You will have seen in the news that the Gov contact-tracing function Track and Trace is now up and running. We wanted to bring it to your attention to be aware of potential scammers. You can report any suspicious activity directly to Faringdon Viral Kindness or as per instructions below.

The latest scam tries to convince people that they have been in contact with someone who has tested positive, pretending to be Track and Trace. They then either ask for money to send them a test or try to get hold of their details.

Do please warn everyone to be aware if they get a phone call or text.

The Government website states information regarding Track and Trace.

All texts or emails will ask you to sign in to the NHS test and trace contact-tracing website.

If the NHS test and trace calls you by phone, the service will be using a single phone number: 0300 013 5000.

Contact tracers will:

- Call you from 0300 013 5000

- Send you text messages from ‘NHS’

- Ask you to sign in to the NHS test and trace contact-tracing website

- Ask for your full name and date of birth to confirm your identity, and postcode to offer support while self-isolating

- Ask about the coronavirus symptoms you have been experiencing

- Ask you to provide the name, telephone number and/or email address of anyone you have had close contact within the 2 days before your symptoms starting

- Ask if anyone you have been in contact with is under 18 or lives outside of England

Contact tracers will never:

- Ask you to dial a premium rate number to speak to us (for example, those starting 09 or 087)

- Ask you to make any form of payment or purchase a product of any kind

- Ask for any details about your bank account

- Ask for your social media identities or login details, or those of your contacts

- Ask you for any passwords or PINs, or ask you to set up any passwords or PINs over the phone

- Disclose any of your personal or medical information to your contacts

- Provide medical advice on the treatment of any potential coronavirus symptoms

- Ask you to download any software to your PC or ask you to hand over control of your PC, smartphone or tablet to anyone else

- Ask you to access any website that does not belong to the government or NHS

If in any doubt, hang up.

Ofcom offers more advice on other Coronavirus telephone and text scams which can be found here.

You can also report scams to Oxfordshire Trading Standards.