DO NOT fall for a scam charging £500 for a coronavirus testing kit, the Isle of Wight Council's Isle of Wight Against Scams Partnership (IWASP) team is warning. 

Fraudsters are calling and pretending to be from the NHS Track and Trace service.

They claim, “you have been in close proximity with someone who has tested positive."

After telling you to self-isolate, they ask for an address to send a testing kit to - along with credit or debit card details, for a “one-off” payment.

IWASP says it is a scam.

How do you know when it's really the NHS?

NHS Test and Trace calls you by phone, using 0300 0135 000.

The only website the service will ask you to visit is https://contact-tracing.phe.gov.uk.

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
  • 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
  • Ask you to purchase a product
  • Ask you to download any software to your device or ask you to hand over control of your PC, smartphone or tablet
  • Ask you to access any website that does not belong to the Government or NHS

IWASP says, 'protect yourselves and stay safe' and if you get one of these calls, hang up the phone.