SMS Text Messages from Government, Scam?

bery_451

p00hsticks said:

bery_451 said:

victor2 said:

Is the recipient of the text a vulnerable person? If so, the GP would surely be aware of any medical circumstances making him/her vulnerable. Could just be a wrong number was given for a different vulnerable person, in which case it can be ignored. AFAIK, that particular message only went out to people listed as vulnerable with the NHS, the standard one seems to have gone to everyone who has a mobile number registered with some NHS service.

Yes a vulnerable person. What is done next?

Assuming you are in England;

You need to detemine if they are classed as 'vulnerable' (e.g over 70, pregnant) or 'extremely vulnerable'.

If the latter (e.g people with severe respiratory disease, organ transplants or undergoing chemotherapy or immunotherapy) then you should have received a letter from NHS England telling you to shield for 12 weeks - that is, not to leave the house for any purpose other than to receive agreed medical treatments.

The letter also invited you to register on a website here, although the app doesnt appear to be available at present https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable

If you haven't received a letter but believe you should have done you can also register and the NHS will chekc if you were omitted from the original list and add you if necessary. 

More details on the criteria for being extremely vunerable and what to do if you are can be found here;

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

So if the person needs to determine for himself/herself whether he or she is vulnerable then why the hell would the Government send a misleading sms text message stating; 'You registered as a clinically extremely vulnerable person' This implies registration has been already done and implies the person receiving the message is a vulnerable person so is the Government just like texting random people for the fun of it? Its absolutely pathetic how things are running.

If the Government cant even send a text sms message correctly then that is worrying whether they are handling bigger issues correctly like this crisis. 

p00hsticks

bery_451 said:

So if the person needs to determine for himself/herself whether he or she is vulnerable then why the hell would the Government send a misleading sms text message stating; 'You registered as a clinically extremely vulnerable person' This implies registration has been already done and implies the person receiving the message is a vulnerable person so is the Government just like texting random people for the fun of it? Its absolutely pathetic how things are running.

Are you sure that your mate DIDN'T register before receiving the message ?

As I said, although the site is intended only for the extremely vulnerable, plenty of others have registered on it hoping that it will give them priority shopping slots with the supermarkets. (If you register without having received an NHS letter then your details are apparently checked to see if you should be added to the official list).

bery_451

p00hsticks said:

bery_451 said:

So if the person needs to determine for himself/herself whether he or she is vulnerable then why the hell would the Government send a misleading sms text message stating; 'You registered as a clinically extremely vulnerable person' This implies registration has been already done and implies the person receiving the message is a vulnerable person so is the Government just like texting random people for the fun of it? Its absolutely pathetic how things are running.

Are you sure that your mate DIDN'T register before receiving the message ?

As I said, although the site is intended only for the extremely vulnerable, plenty of others have registered on it hoping that it will give them priority shopping slots with the supermarkets. (If you register without having received an NHS letter then your details are apparently checked to see if you should be added to the official list).

No register before receiving the txt.

unforeseen

I've registered but never got a text message about it. 

All my text messages started with 'NHS Coronavirus Service' and not 'GOV.UK coronavirus support '
Maybe they have changed the wording since the initial round of texts and letters