Just had a message from "Test and Trace"

[Clariana]

Hello,

I just had an email, and a text supposedly from NHS Test and Trace, saying I have been in contact with someone who tested positive, and I must self isolate for 10 days.....

Now, I travelled on Sunday, so I suppose it is possible, but isn't the 10 day isolation out of date? I am double jabbed and boosted and I thought that daily testing was the advice now, so, my question is, is this a scam? And if so where do I report it to as they must have got access to the government passenger locator forms system?

Any advice appreciated.

They should ring you and tell you what to do.

@Nosnowthisyear

Thank you, so as they haven't does this mean it is a scam email?

They assume you are unvaccinated so say 10 days. The up to date guidance is on the government website.

It's still 10 days in Scotland

I think I was phoned the day after the text message.

I am in England, and they would know this and my vaccination status from the passenger locator form, which is what makes me suspicious of the email......

Or am I just being paranoid?

Hmm weird. I’m in England but all the texts and emails I have had over the last few days said

CXxxxx (Account ID: xxxxxxxx)
You're a contact of someone with COVID-19. You do not have to self-isolate.
You should take rapid lateral flow tests for 7 days or until 1st of January if that's earlier. You may become infectious even if you're fully vaccinated or do not have symptoms.
Children under 5 do not need daily rapid tests. For more advice visit: contact-tracing.phe.gov.uk/links/regular-rapid-coronavirus-tests-if-you-do-not-have-symptoms
Follow national COVID-19 guidelines. To find out more visit: contact-tracing.phe.gov.uk/links/how-to-avoid-catching-and-spreading-covid
To update your Test and Trace details, sign in with your account ID at contact-tracing.phe.gov.uk/

The main headline on the front page of The Telegraph today is:
"Test & Trace tells people to isolate incorrectly".

It looks as if you're not alone. If you're vaccinated 10 day isolation is not the current advice in England. But if you've travelled (and need a PLF) you do have to isolate until you've received a negative result from your Day 2 test.

That sounds legit. Headline of the Telegraph yesterday was that t and t were still telling people to isolate incorrectly.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-the-papers-59814202

Are you in England? Just follow the new guidance.

@User2638483, thank you, yes I would expect something much more like that. Just to be clear, I don't mind doing daily tests, at all and will do, but I am concerned if it is a scam someone has access total my details, such as passport number etc, etc.

@Clariana

I am in England, and they would know this and my vaccination status from the passenger locator form, which is what makes me suspicious of the email......

Or am I just being paranoid?

There is no link up of your vaccination status etc with t and t. The only information they have about you is that you’re a contact.

I wouldn’t have said it’s a scam especially as you recently travelled

@PurpleDaisies @amicissimma

Ah, thank you, reassured that it is government mistake rather than a hacker with access to all my info!

Yeah they do not link data unfortunately. Even when each one of us tested positive one after the other, they just churned out all the usual texts and emails even though we were already isolating due to being positive. They also told us to isolate when the first one got it. The going on assumption is that you are not vaccinated for some reason.

I got a text that told me I was a contact and then a text to fill out a form which then told me because I am double jabbed and boostered I didn't need to isolate.

I've had a text that IS a scam - basically not been out of my house bar the shop once for milk, and to the butchers to pick up turkey, both of which took me all of 5 minutes in past 10 days, and neither place do you scan in.
I don't think the NHS would say 'Hi' at the start of their text either.
I'm ignoring as I don't want to fork out $5.99 for a 'test ' (and have them steal my card details)

@Ariela

I've had a text that IS a scam - basically not been out of my house bar the shop once for milk, and to the butchers to pick up turkey, both of which took me all of 5 minutes in past 10 days, and neither place do you scan in. I don't think the NHS would say 'Hi' at the start of their text either. I'm ignoring as I don't want to fork out $5.99 for a 'test ' (and have them steal my card details)

My friend had one of these after a trip to Spain that was also a scam as it wanted her to click on a link to arrange a Test .

Just go through the questions on the link on the app and it will send a new text saying you are exempt- it's the same with the phone call once you say your double jabbed they will advise daily testing .