People have been warned to watch out for call from your GP surgery which are actually a scam aiming to collect your private information. Fraid experts say they have had multiple reports of calls which appear to be from GP surgeries, asking people to provide their personal information.
The calls are actual;ly a scam, and appear to originate in China. Bryn Thompson from anti-fraud specialists Phonely said: “GP surgeries will never request personal details, such as your NHS number or financial information, via an unsolicited phone call.
“If you receive a suspicious call claiming to be from your GP, hang up and call your surgery directly using their official number, which can be found on their website or in previous correspondence.Use call-blocking tools to prevent further contact and report suspicious calls to relevant authorities.”
Phonely has issued a warning after a worrying increase in scam calls reported on its Who Called Me? platform, which receives thousands of daily visits.
The platform has received numerous reports of these fraudulent calls, with users sharing their experiences in detailed comments. Examples include:
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“Spam call asking you to update your GP details, this is spam as the second language is Chinese. Avoid.”
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“The message started in Chinese. I disconnected and called my GP, who confirmed there was no message for me and the number doesn’t belong to them.”
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“A Chinese voice saying it is your GP. For English press 1, for Chinese press 2. After I pressed 1, the line cut off immediately. Later, I called back, but it was declined. It sounds suspicious, so I blocked it.”
These scam calls typically involve a recorded message in both English and Chinese, urging recipients to press a number to proceed. Scammers appear to be targeting personal details, preying on individuals who may be concerned about their health or medical appointments.
To help tackle telephone scams:
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Report to Action Fraud (UK): Contact Action Fraud online at www.actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.
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Add to Phonely’s Who Called Me? Database: Share your experience to warn others by visiting www.phonely.co.uk/who-called-me.