I have had an official looking NHS notification to say that I have been in contact with the Omicron variant of Covid. I have been ill with cold, sore throat and vomiting ( only water taken).
I have been offered a test. The email asked for all my details, then bank details. I paused here because they said my test would be free but the postage was 99 pence. I kind of smelled a rat. Is this the usual procedure or a scam?
My son has loads of tests available because of doing it daily for his work.
Would this be acceptable?
Do I notify anyone?
I am due to fly in 11 days.
I think the worst 24 hours of a very nasty bug has passed.
Do I need anti virals on 6 mgs of Prednisalone?
Glad if anyone can help from experience.
Thanks!
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SheffieldJane
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if you have a test from your son take it! Don’t do the 99 pence one you never know You could still fly in 11 days without infecting others even if positive.
I think... with so many home tests people dont notify. Perhaps there is a way but if it is not clear on a web site do not bother. Just rest and get well. I think everywhere they are counting Hospitalizations and not so much infection. GET WELL!!!! you have places to go and people to see. In the meantime I am in Sweden heading north on the train ! We are the ONLY ones masked!! xo
it’s a scam - had friends receive the same msg when they were perfectly well. It’s caused you to doubt it because you’re unwell but that’s a total coincidence. Ignore the msg but definitely take a test for your peace of mind. Hopefully it’s just a bug but even if it’s Covid you’ll still be ok to fly in 11 days. Hope you feel better soon and have a great holiday 😊
Yes it’s a scam - anything out of the blue that asks for yr bank details is a scam. My sister had this, but had some tests of her own, so luckily didn’t pay the 99p - took one, clear, cd find no way to report it anyway. As Fudge says, the fact u are unwell when u get the message is coincidence. Get well soon and Have a gd holiday!
These scams look so realistic. You’ll start to feel better soon. Don’t worry about anything just look forward to that amazing trip. Hope you’ve booked assistance!
Scam. Never give bank details online or over the phone, even if they appear to be genuine. I’ve seen this one before. The scammers count on the ones feeling unwell to respond. The 99p trick is used for other scams, deliveries etc. Have a lovely time with family in Australia!
Yes, it’s very sneaky. A friend got one a while back and he had just found out an hour before a client he had been with had tested positive….he said he almost went along with it. I guess the scammers churn out so many of these texts they rely on coincidences to get people to reply.
thanks for this post Jane. I had a similar notification by text, and smelled a rat straightaway - not least because I thought this type of follow up notification had ceased. Fortunately, I’ve had no symptoms at all.
Anyway, hope you feel a bit better soon and are able to get away.
wow! Are you off to Australia? Wherever, I just hope it goes well for you. After all your issues, you really deserve a break.
I think these scams are absolutely dreadful, as they can so easily catch you out. The latest lot are aimed at any payments that may be due as a result of the energy crisis. I know what I’d like to do with the perpetrators, but that’s unmentionable!!!
yes, to see my daughters and grandchildren. Haven’t had a holiday for nearly four years or seen one daughter and my eldest two grandchildren. I don’t know if it is terror or excitement that I am feeling - both, In turn I guess. Thanks. Xx
It’s a scam…..official request does not ask for payment. But by all means take a test - I’ve done that a couple of times when I’ve felt a bit “off” just for my own peace of mind….and reported result.
Its a Scam Jane - l wrote up about fairly recently - there is No Contact Tracing now. But l can imagine how you felt especially with being unwell anyway.
The one l had was just before Theo’s Christening & just for a second l went into overdrive but as soon as l saw the 99p P&P l knew it was a scam!
I got a phone-call from the anti-viral people. They are not giving them to me because I am down to 6 mgs of Pred. She had all my medical history. If I had still been on Tocilizumab, I would have got them automatically. I don’t think this is commonly known.
This “ phone a friend” is pretty marvellous”. They will have to try harder to catch us napping. As Paddy says, it will be the energy crisis next. Fill in your bank details to get a grant.
Not in the UK as you know but in your place I would definitely have antivirals if you test positive and asap as they need to be taken as 'early' as possible for best impact. You want to also be as well as possible when you travel soon. My partner's father (anecdotal I know but interesting) was at his docs for other reasons and they tested him and found he was positive. - he had no symptoms to that point ! He is 87 has half a lung, a pacemaker and RA - on lots of medications and he had quite a mild case for only a few days - which they put down to his early taking of the antivirals.
I never gave my mobile number out to anyone but family. Now all and sundry force me to give it to them for security checking. A friend does not have a mobile phone, she is 80, but no phone, so no offer of the Covid vaccine, one MUST have a mobile and so we can get conned by the scammers. Grrrr.
I would not be able to use my bank, insurance or pensions companies plus several suppliers if I did not have a mobile phone as they insist on having one to send you that code system they all now seem to use.
Well, as everyone has said, it's a scam. I had a text message with a similar theme. Hope you feel better soon Jane anx have a wonderful holiday with the family. Linda xx
Also Jane, on the subject of antivirals....and i am on 5mg...I could have had them when I tested positive a couple of months ago. I declined them as I had tested positive 4 days earlier and just felt like I had a bad head cold. I did end up with a chest infection, probably unrelated?, but have been fine. x
Thanks altywhite, that is reassuring. I have tested positive for Covid as has my husband. I have registered this on the NHS website, so I guess it’s up to them. I haven’t eaten for 2 days. I am wondering if the nausea is Adrenal related. I have observed sick day rules. Gosh it’s rotten.
They should contact you but i think if you're going to have the anti virals you should start them within 5 days of your positive test. Hopefully you'll be on the up soon. Good luck with Snow White and the 7 dudes!! 😂 I'm sure you'll love it x
last Tuesday. Australia has a flu epidemic. They have booked us in to a live performance of Snow White and the 7 dudes, on the first day of the school holidays. Aargh!
It’s a scam! I fell for it when my husband actually had Covid in July. The NHS Covid reporting line confirmed it was a scam, I contacted my bank and changed my cards. About two weeks later I had a call from my bank’s fraud department to tell me that there had been an unusual transaction on my account for £900. I was suspicious and asked to check his details. He was very understanding and gave me a number to ring. I th en trusted him and went to my computer and followed his instructions. Sadly, he was a clever fraudster and I ended up losing £900. I felt so stupid. Please be careful!
Thanks, I did and I’ve got it. To those humming and hawing over the vaccine. Covid is horrible, chest full of razor blades, profound headache pain, vomiting, even water. I have had 5 vaccines. I don’t qualify for anti virals because I am on under 10 mgs of Pred.
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