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Original poster

"Pinged" but no app

15 replies

whoknows1230 · 30/12/2021 19:32

I have received a text message saying that I've been in a venue where there has been an outbreak of covid. The message doesn't say when it was or where the venue is. Other than one visit to the supermarket, I haven't been anywhere though.

I'm confident that the message is legit as it has come from the same sender as when I booked a pcr test in the past.

But where did they get my number from? I have the app but contact tracing is switched off. Would somebody have had to give my phone number as part of track and trace?

OP posts:
humdingle · 30/12/2021 19:36

Are you sure you haven't been anywhere else? You'd be surprised how long ago it could have been, depending on when the person says their symptoms started.

But yes, someone will have given your details as a person they've had contact with.

Original poster
whoknows1230 · 30/12/2021 19:46

Ooh, maybe I have been a bit naïve - I thought it would only have been somewhere in the last week.

I went to the nail salon on 19th December, so maybe that's it. It's closed for Xmas/NY though so I can't ask. You would have thought they would have contacted people themselves though, but maybe not! I also filled up with petrol on the same day, but they wouldn't have my mobile number.

I've had visitors over Xmas but I haven't been to anyone else's house and nobody has told me that they've got it.

Thank you for replying @humdingle - at least I now know that someone will have given my mobile number to T&T.

OP posts:
ThirdElephant · 30/12/2021 19:49

Are they asking for you to contact them at all? If so, don't. It is possible to spoof a phone number to make it appear as they want it to on your device.

dementedpixie · 30/12/2021 19:52

Have you left your details at any venue you have visited recently?
What did the message tell you to do? Or were they just advising you to be careful?

FionaJT · 30/12/2021 19:55

I work at a small theatre, and had an email from T&T a couple of days ago, telling me to expect a call from them with a request to provide phone numbers of all the ticket buyers at a performance that 'several' people who recently tested positive had reported attending. So it'll be something like that. It's so slow as to be worthless, though - the performance was now a week ago so by the time they ring me and then send any messages out it will be really too late for any testing/isolation to be helpful.

humdingle · 30/12/2021 19:56

@ThirdElephant

Are they asking for you to contact them at all? If so, don't. It is possible to spoof a phone number to make it appear as they want it to on your device.
I agree with this. T&T won't ask you to get in touch with them. They'll just send a long, generic text message recommending you to do daily LFTs or whatever.
Leetepp · 30/12/2021 20:00

I have my app off and was told i was a contact after visiting the cinema. My partner wasnt contacted but i assume as i booked and the cinema had my number on the booking that this was why. And my partner had their app on too

Montecristocount · 30/12/2021 20:16

I’ve had these a few times. I’ve assumed it’s from a ticketed venue where I’ve given my phone number in on the booking form.

Original poster
whoknows1230 · 30/12/2021 20:35

I went out for a meal on 10th December and made the booking online but haven't been anywhere else, other than the nail salon, where they would have had my phone number.

It sounds like it's might be as @FionaJT has said and that they're just really slow at contacting people.

The message didn't ask me to contact anyone. It said I don't need to isolate but to do a test - LFT if no symptoms and PCR if symptoms - then a link to the GOV website to find out more/order a test.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 30/12/2021 20:37

Sounds legitimate
But don't use links from the message if you're booking any tests

nordica · 30/12/2021 20:46

The app is not connected to your phone number anyway so this will be different, somewhere you made a booking and gave your number.

Erictheavocado · 30/12/2021 20:51

DH had one of these texts several weeks ago. Thing is, he had been nowhere in the ten days prior, other than a daily walk where he met noone. He goes into a shop (chemist) once a month to pick up his medication and other than that only sees my ds and dgs, neither of whom have ever tested positive. There really was no-one that could have given dh mobile number -only six people have it and again, none of those had tested positive. He does not have the app. We can only assume someone entered a phone number incorrectly and the incorrect number happened to belong to DH.

DaisyNGO · 30/12/2021 20:55

@nordica

The app is not connected to your phone number anyway so this will be different, somewhere you made a booking and gave your number.
How does the app ping you if it isn't connected to your phone number?
dementedpixie · 30/12/2021 20:57

The app works on Bluetooth and the phones interact with each other using that. They don't access the phone numbers at all

DaisyNGO · 30/12/2021 21:48

@dementedpixie

The app works on Bluetooth and the phones interact with each other using that. They don't access the phone numbers at all
Thank you
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