Police and trading standards officers have issued an urgent warning over a new automated phone scam impersonating the NHS, which threatens patients with losing access to their GP unless they hand over personal or banking details.
A sophisticated new phone scam impersonating the NHS is circulating across the UK, with police and consumer watchdogs warning it could leave thousands of patients fearing they will lose access to their local GP practice. The automated calls falsely claim that a patient’s local surgery is “updating their registry” and instruct recipients to press a number to speak to an NHS staff member. Officials say the calls are entirely fraudulent, and are urging anyone who receives one to hang up immediately without following any of the instructions given.
How the scam works
According to warnings issued by Trading Standards and police forces, the scam begins with a recorded voice message telling residents that their local practitioner’s registry is being updated. The full script, which has been circulated by officials, states: “Our systems show your local practitioner is updating their registry. If you would like to keep attending your local practitioner, please press one to speak with a member of staff at the NHS to show you how to set up our new mobile app.”
Norfolk County Council Trading Standards, along with Sudbury and Haverhill Police, have confirmed the message is fake, stressing that the NHS does not cold-call patients to threaten their access to healthcare, nor does it require anyone to download an app over the phone. Anyone who presses the button as instructed is connected directly to a fraudster, who will attempt to extract banking details or other personal information under the guise of assisting with registration.
Scammers use spoofed numbers to appear genuine
The fraudsters behind the calls are understood to use “number spoofing” techniques, which make the call appear to originate from a genuine UK mobile number or local landline, lending the scam an added layer of credibility. Officials warn that criminals running the operation may also attempt to create a sense of urgency, pressuring victims into making hasty decisions without time to verify the call’s legitimacy. Once contact is made, scammers may seek to obtain banking details, passwords, security codes or other sensitive personal information.
What to do if you receive the call
Trading Standards and police have issued the following advice to residents who receive the call:
- Hang up immediately and do not press any buttons or respond to the recorded message.
- Do not trust the number shown on caller ID, as it can easily be falsified by scammers.
- If concerned, contact your GP surgery directly using the number listed on its official website.
- If you have already shared financial details, contact your bank immediately.
- Report the scam to Action Fraud to help protect others.
- Monitor your bank accounts closely for any unusual activity.
Anyone affected by the scam is being encouraged to report it by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting the Report Fraud website.
