Message from NHS Wales:
We have received reports that patients are receiving telephone calls from individuals claiming to be calling on behalf of their GP practice. The caller advises that patient records are being updated and requests that the recipient press “1” to update their details. Patients are further told that failure to comply may result in their removal from the GP practice register.
This is a scam. GP practices would not ordinarily contact patients via an automated telephone service to request personal information in this manner, nor would they threaten removal from their patient list for failing to respond to such a request.
If patients contact your practice to report receiving one of these calls, advise them not to provide any personal, financial or security information, and to end calls immediately.
Patients should be encouraged to report the incident to Action Fraud and to their mobile network provider.
Suspicious telephone numbers and scam text messages can be reported free of charge by forwarding the number or message to 7726 (SPAM), a service used by UK mobile networks to identify and block scam activity.
GP practices will never call you asking you to press 1 or threaten of removal patient list. Do not share personal or financial details over the phone. Report scam calls to action fraud and forward suspicious texts or numbers to 7726 (SPAM).
