A TEST and Trace scam call asking people to pay £50 for a coronavirus test has been reported.

A victim of the scam posted on the community Facebook page Spotted: Didcot to warn others.

The fraudster, claiming to be phoning from the NHS ‘track and trace’ service, said the person had been in 'close proximity' with someone who had tested positive for the coronavirus, and would need to self-isolate and take a Covid-19 test.

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The scammer then asked for card details to pay £50 for a test and warned that there were ‘penalties for not complying’.

However this is false: Covid-19 tests are free and the NHS will never ask for card details.

A Government spokesperson said: “Official NHS Test and Trace contact tracers will never ask you for financial details, PINs or passwords.

“We take scams like this seriously, and we will not tolerate fraudsters committing criminal acts and disrupting a vitally important scheme.

“We have been working with the police and the National Cyber Security Centre on measures to keep the public safe and would encourage the public to report any such scams to Action Fraud.”

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In June, Ofcom published information about Test and Trace scams as it was predicted that scammers could use it as a way to get personal or financial information.

The communications regulator advises that genuine contact tracers will never ask for any form of payment, bank or identity details, PINs, or passwords, or ask you to purchase a test or download an app.

Ofcom also highlight that the only website Test and Trace will ask you to visit is contact-tracing.phe.gov.uk

Thames Valley Police said it was unable to comment on this scam without an address and date of when it was reported.