Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Shielding service 03333050466 is this a scam?

43 replies

hellsbells99 · 16/04/2020 13:09

Just had a text about shielding from a different number than usual. It says UK Gov National Shielding Service & expect a call on the above number.
I have googled it and there is a mixed response on whether this is a scam.
Please can anyone advise?

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 16/04/2020 13:15

I googled the shielding details and found this:

To give you confidence, the phone number they’re calling from will register on your phone as 0333 3050466. It is not a live telephone line, but if you call it you will get the following recorded message:

“You were called today by the Shielding Helpline, sorry that we missed you, there is no need to call us back as we will try again soon. Thank you goodbye”.

pocketem · 16/04/2020 13:16

Check your shielding letter. Some people say this phone number is in there as their contact details

uk.whocalledme.net/PhoneNumber/03333050466

Original poster
hellsbells99 · 16/04/2020 13:25

Thanks. I haven't got the letter. It is my mum that is shielding so she has the letter (and doesn't really understand what she is reading to me over the phone) - but it is my mobile that we have registered against mum's name so I get the texts (mum doesn't have a mobile and this way we can try and keep on top of things).

OP posts:
Fanacapan · 16/04/2020 13:25

Definitely legit, it’s the number quoted on department of health advice to GPS.

TheGreatWave · 16/04/2020 13:33

Hope that pp have reassured you
It is always worth checking these things out.

pocketem · 16/04/2020 13:51

Yes, I've doubled checked and it is indeed legit - the number is on page 5 of the shielding letter, see here

www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/03/20200402-FAQs-Patients-vFINAL.pdf

Shielding service 03333050466 is this a scam?
Original poster
hellsbells99 · 16/04/2020 15:27

thanks very much all.

OP posts:
Livolo · 23/04/2020 09:24

You were called today by the Shielding Helpline. Definitely legit! Please take a look here: who-called.co.uk/Number/03333050466

NervousInYorkshire · 27/04/2020 16:48

I've just had a missed call too, but didn't think I was in the shielding group - I've got a few underlying conditions but I don't think I'm classed as extremely vulnerable, and haven't had a letter Confused

If anyone else has had a missed call from them, how long did it take for them to try again please?

JaneEliz1 · 27/04/2020 17:08

YES THIS IS A SCAM

A GP's surgery has advised me that this is definitely a scam.

Please don't give them any information

AndOr · 27/04/2020 18:34

I've just had a missed call from this number. They left a voicemail but I couldn't tell what they were saying as the background was noisy.

I am definitely not on the shielding list as I am lucky enough to have no long term health conditions whatsoever, and neither do any of my immediate family. I have not received a shielding letter.

I rang the number back and got a recorded message that sounded legit Confused

So I rang my GP surgery and they said they've had a lot of similar calls today from people who have been contacted but are not shielding. They have added my name to the list to investigate.

Sounds like there's been some sort of data leak or mix up somewhere Shock

Original poster
hellsbells99 · 27/04/2020 22:59

They have contacted my mum. She just said ‘my daughter is sorting it’ to nearly every question they asked - shopping etc. But then they asked her how she was getting her pension out of the post office and she has got a bit upset about this. Luckily she hasn’t given them any info.

OP posts:
ZagaduBoo · 27/04/2020 23:13

I would like to know the answer to this. I had a wierd automated answer message and then a call from the NHS Shielding Team to tell me to shield immediately for 12 weeks from today. It was bloody dramatic. I explained my condition and she spoke to her manager and said I should shield and could call 111 for a letter and did I want help with food. I asked for their number and not being funny it was a lot less digits than the one above, it did not even sound right.

If its a scam its bloody ridiculous.

ZagaduBoo · 27/04/2020 23:14

@JaneEliz1 can you elaborate, how do you know?

WorkingItOutAsIGo · 27/04/2020 23:23

I have a text from this number and it was followed up by the official letter. Not sure I believe people saying it’s a scam.

NervousInYorkshire · 28/04/2020 12:14

I called my surgery and they said it was a valid message. When I said I'm not in the shielding group, they said I am, and I should have had a letter.

I'm a bit taken aback and frazzled.

They're doing another one today for me to try get collected by someone.

dementedpixie · 28/04/2020 13:04

The number given is a valid number for the shielding team. I dont know why JaneEliz1 says otherwise

michaelbaubles · 28/04/2020 13:15

A valid number showing on your screen does NOT mean it's a genuine call from that number. Scammers can spoof numbers - the do it with fake bank calls all the time. I'd only trust it if I'd called back the GP myself to check.

TerrapinStation · 28/04/2020 13:21

YES THIS IS A SCAM

I had to check this for a relative and if it's a scam it's a massively complicated one including faking an NHS England website

@JaneEliz1 can you come back and give a bit more information please everything I can find suggests it's totally legit.

Toomuchtrouble4me · 28/04/2020 13:58

What is the scam though? If it is one? Are they asking for money?

WorkingItOutAsIGo · 28/04/2020 13:59

Right now I think the people telling you this is a scam may be guilty of circulating fake news and causing consternation and upset. I spoke with my GP and it was all legit.

Dunlurking · 28/04/2020 14:11

I asked the caller to give me my NHS number over the phone as proof of who they were (NHS number on the letter)They were happy to do that. They just want details of whether we have access to food or need deliveries, if we know why we’re shielding, do we have any dietary needs, and to remind us we mustn’t go out. If you don’t answer the telephone they keep trying until you do! After the first answerphone message was left I registered on the website but it didn’t stop the calls.

AndOr · 28/04/2020 22:39

I was received another call from them today which I answered this time. The woman I spoke to couldn't tell me why I was on their list, and suggested I ring my GP. But I already spoke to them yesterday and they confirmed I wasn't definitely not in the high risk group, or even moderate risk group.

I don't think it's a scam, but I don't think the list of people they're contacting is always correct.

NervousInYorkshire · 30/04/2020 13:32

I've managed to answer one of their calls yesterday; I've also been called by my council today after the shielding service passed my details on - I'm getting a volunteer to help with shopping (yay!).
Looks like it's definitely not a scam (disclaimer: provided someone's not just harvesting phone numbers and I actually do get a volunteer).

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 30/04/2020 18:21

I've been called today. I knew I was in the vulnerable group for several reasons but wouldn't be in the extremely vulnerable group. Number as above etc but no letter. I was really cagey with the guy on the phone - he did know my name and address - and didn't tell him anything else other than I was OK.