We have been made aware of a scam targeting patients registered with local GP practices. A patient registered locally has reported receiving a phone call from a man calling himself Steve Wilson from London, from a ‘company’ claiming to be from Elderly Healthcare/Elderly Medicine, or similar.
The Caller had the patient’s name, date of birth and address, and was telling her that he had some medication ready to send her, but that he needed her bank details. When the patient said that she’d need to check with her surgery first ‘Steve’ said that she shouldn’t do that. Thankfully the patient was suspicious, dealt with it really well, and didn’t give them any more information.
What You Should Do:
- Stay Alert: Be cautious of any unsolicited calls, texts, or emails asking for your personal details.
- Do Not Share Personal Information: GP practices will never ask for sensitive personal information in this manner.
- Verify Authenticity: If you are unsure about any communication claiming to be from your GP practice, contact us directly using our official phone number or email.
Scammers may try to make it appear as though you’ve hung up in order to stay on the line, or keep the line open after you’ve hung up. To be sure the line has been closed, consider calling the surgery from a different phone, wait 10-15 minutes or restarting your phone before calling. - Report Suspicious Activity: If you suspect a scam or fraud is taking place, please report it to: Reporting fraud and cyber crime | Action Fraud or 0300 123 20 40
- Preventing fraud: You can find out more information about preventing fraud on the Action Fraud website: https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/individual-protection
- Further support is also available on the Age UK website – How to spot scams
Your safety and security are our priority. Please remain vigilant and share this message with others who may be at risk. If you have any concerns or questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our practice team.