New NHS 'registry update' alert as patients issued important advice on what to do

New NHS 'registry update' alert as patients issued important advice on what to do Patients are being made aware of the steps they should take if it happens to them UK residents are being warned about a sophisticated new NHS phone hoax that's currently circulating, potentially leaving thousands of patients worried about losing access to their local healthcare. Police and consumer watchdogs have issued an urgent warning after a surge in automated calls targeting unsuspecting residents about a 'registry update'. If you receive a phone call claiming your local GP or practitioner is "updating their registry", hang up immediately. This is the advice being issued to Brits regarding the new scam designed to trick you into giving away personal information or downloading dangerous software. The scam begins with an automated voice recording. It tells you that if you want to keep using your local doctor's surgery, you must "press one" to speak with an NHS staff member. They claim they will help you set up a new mobile app to stay registered. The full message reads: "Our systems show your local practitioner is updating their registry. If you would like to keep attending your local practitioner, please press one to speak with a member of staff at the NHS to show you how to set up our new mobile app." Trading Standards and police forces across the UK have issued urgent alerts regarding this exact recorded script. Norfolk County Council Trading Standards and Sudbury and Haverhill Police say that this is completely fake. The NHS will never cold-call you out of the blue to threaten your access to healthcare, nor will it force you to download an app over the phone. Scammers use "number spoofing" to make the call appear to come from a real UK mobile or local phone number, making the trick seem highly convincing. If you press the button, you will be connected to a fraudster who will try to steal your banking details or personal data. Criminals could also use these calls to steal personal information, banking details, passwords, or security codes from you. The people running the scam might make it seem super urgent to push you into a quick decision. How can you stay safe? - Hang up and do not press any buttons or reply to the message. - Do not trust the caller ID, as real numbers can easily be faked by criminals. - If you are worried, call your actual GP surgery using the number on their official website. If you've already given out your money information, you should call your bank right away. You can also tell Action Fraud about the scam to help keep other people safe. Keep checking your accounts to see if anything weird happens. Let Report Fraud know what happened by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting the Report Fraud website.