Been contacted by test and trace but sure they've got the wrong person

[thankful16]

Just wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation. I received 3 text messages yesterday all addressed to the wrong name (so not me or even anyone I know) saying I've been identified as someone who has recently tested positive and I must self isolate. It gave me a link to visit my account (set up a username and password) for me to provide more information. I didn't do this since the text message was addressed to the wrong person plus i haven't been anywhere for at least 4 weeks where I've had to provide my details such as a pub or restaurant as were I live these have all been closed for over 3 weeks plus we aren't allowed to mix households so I've only been to the shops were they obviously don't ask for your details.

This morning I have received a call from test and trace and they said they will call be back later and to look out for the number. They said I can look on the gov website for more information which I have done and it all looks legit so doesn't look like a scam like I initially thought it was. But they've clearly got the wrong person either someone has given them a random / wrong number and it just happens to me or someone has used my number. I just don't know how easy it will be to explain this to them, will they listen? Or will they just think I'm making it up? No one I know has ever been contacted by them. I live with my partner and he hasn't been contacted by them either. Has anyone else been in this situation?

Sounds like a scam to me.
Just block their number.

@Bunnymumy I did think that myself but it's a 0300 number and when I look on the gov website it says that's what number will contact you plus when I call the number it's an automated message saying what the number is and to look out for it calling me back

There was a caller on LBC who had been contacted with the wrong name. It turned out someone had just used his mobile number and a fake name to check in at a restaurant.
I doubt he’s the only one this has happened to.

I guess just answer the call and tell them what's what. Don't give out any details you arent comfortable with.

It could be a scam/phishing attempt or it could be a mistake or someone gave your number as a fake number. These are good links to check that the call/text is genuine.

www.which.co.uk/news/2020/06/nhs-covid-19-contact-tracing-message-how-can-i-tell-if-its-real-or-a-scam/
fullfact.org/online/test-and-trace-scam/

@BrokenBrit yeah I'm thinking that's what happened here. Just wondering if they'll actually believe it or not. Suppose all I can do is just answer the call and find out and not give out any of my details.

It is possible for scammers to get a phone number to show as a different phone number on caller ID @thankful16.

@orangenasturtium Thanks for this info. This part was interesting in that article:

Calls will come from 0300 013 5000, however there’s still a risk of this number being spoofed.

That's the number I was called on but still looks like it could potentially still be a scam.

Could it be someone gave/made up a mobile number for somewhere they have visited and it happened to be yours? Hence the wrong name. If you were to think up 20 mobile numbers off your head you'll find they all belong to someone. If this is the case then shame on that person. Now they have been in contact with someone positive and they don't know and all you can do if someone rings is say it's not you they've the wrong person, don't give any further details and don't sign up to anything.

@Lipz Yeah I'm thinking that's what happened.

To me it sounds like the genuine test and trace people, but they're using the wrong number for the person they are trying to contact. Either a genuine mistake on the part of the person who gave out the number, or a fake number so their mate doesn't have to isolate. I think you should answer when they call back, but tell them that you're not the person they are trying to contact, so they can revert to the original case and try to get the accurate details out of them (if it was a genuine mistake - 2 numbers written the wrong way round or something)...if they can even do this...not sure how much data the contact tracers actually have. You won't be required to isolate yourself, as you are not "Bernard" or whoever, so it's obviously not you they need to contact, so "you" haven't been contacted by them.

I think it sounds genuine there's obviously just been a mistake with a phone number. Most likely someone gave a wrong one for a contact of theirs, possibly deliberately.
when you spoke to them did they ask if you were (not your name)? Did you explain that you were not that person? You should be able to prove who you are (granted on the phone is difficult) . I don't think you are legally obliged to isolate unless you are the name they are after and obviously if a copper turns up (very unlikely) then presumably you have some photo ID to prove that you are not that person.

It will be genuine. Please answer the call and tell them they have the wrong details. They will keep calling you until you answer and it’s a massive waste of resources if they are chasing you and you aren’t the correct contact. They will then write it off as follow up having failed.

There's a lot of people (akin to flat earthers, antivaxxers anti-maskers and other numpties) who are refusing to give their real details cos it's all a con and the government just wants our information and to microchip us.

My guess is one of them gave a fake number to "stick it to the man!" And the number just happened to be yours.

When they ask to speak to (not your name) just say that you're not that person.
Important to answer the phone though as they will keep calling

Thanks everyone. I'll answer the next time they phone.

They just called me there again and asked if I was 'Joe Bloggs' and when I said no, they asked if I'd been in contact with anyone who had tested positive and I said no and explained that's why I ignored the text messages yesterday as they called me the wrong way and I know I've not been in contact with anyone. They put me on hold to talk to their team leader and then came back to say that was fine, they won't contact me again. Phew! Glad that's sorted!

I'd answer and just say you're not the person the message was addressed to, and you've not been anywhere recently. Politely ask them to remove the number from their database, and don't give them any of your personal details just in case it is a scam. Merely answering the phone and doing this won't cause any harm, either way.

Do they tell you where/who the contact is? As I understand it you don't have any right to reply/challenge the contact and they won't tell you who the contact is. If you're identified as a contact you have isolate which is why so many people are giving false details/ refusing to use the app

I expect there will be a lot of this, but I also expect a lot of people will lie about it being them.

Complete clusterfuck

Glad it's sorted for you though!!

Judging by the number of people on Mumsnet who say they are not using their correct details, I'm not surprised. This is why T&T isn't working.

@MJMG2015

I expect there will be a lot of this, but I also expect a lot of people will lie about it being them.

Complete clusterfuck

Glad it's sorted for you though!!

Yeah this was what I was worried about in case they didn't believe me as I imagine a lot of people lie. Luckily it sounds like the people may be from the same household as they have the same surname. She asked if I lived with 'first name bloggs' so hopefully she can go back to her and get the correct number for the person.

I agree it's most likely to be someone giving a random fake number that happens to be yours.

How can we combat this? Could we incentivise giving accurate details in some way? Like if you are using test & trace correctly and doing everything you can to combat the pandemic then you get better support if you do get a positive than you would if you are being gittish like this?

Glad you got it sorted OP!

It is odd though... If someone gave the wrong number on purpose, why would they even give a contact name in the first place?! Why not just say they hadn't had contact with anyone for the required period? Surely they'd realise that a made up number would be easy for t and t to identify once they'd spoken to the person on the end of it (who didn't have the name they were expecting!) and it would be linked back to them.

I thought I'd read it was illegal to fail to cooperate with t and t, including giving false details, and you could be fined, but looking at the gov page I'm not sure it is... Only if you are asked to isolate as a positive test or a contact, and don't. That seems a bit of a loophole. No wonder only 75% of contacts "with contact details provided" are being reached if the contact details aren't of the contact themselves! Surprised it's not higher...

thanks for thread OP. Useful if similar happens to others.