Yes, on both counts, I’m fully aware that for the most part, the NHS won’t leave voicemail. It’s the same with the police, all numbers they use are blocked for obvious reasons. I have to point out however, that my interactions with the NHS over my adulthood, have been minimal to the point of being literally non existent. The last time I sought help was via 111 two years ago and over four hours after I called them, they actually sent me a text SMS message telling me to go to my local minor injuries unit. So they can contact via other means if they absolutely want to. They also of course have my email address.
to be honest, i think we need some sort of physical authentication chip in the phones they use to guarantee the phones are by NHS/Police and the government should pass regulation to make phone manufacturers update recent phones to verify it
then we could just show on the caller ID and Apple would probably make NHS/Police bypass it
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That is the most sensible post I’ve read so far this month 
Organisations now always use caller ID in my experience as they’re aware that most people rarely answer withheld numbers.
My GPs surgery come up on the caller ID and anything general is sent via SMS anyway.
The wider NHS calls come from a single geographical number - which displays as NHS and if you call back it doesn’t take incoming calls and advises to use the details they’ve already provided.
Is that just an England thing?
Everything is still no caller ID here unless something’s changed between yesterday afternoon and now.
Yup, I have received several SMS messages from the NHS relating to COVID jabs, flu jabs etc because I’m signed up to the NHS messaging service. I have the NHS App on my phone. If they want me, they’ll get me.
My last interaction with the police whereby they needed to contact me as a witness involved a conversation around me telling them I never answer blocked calls so leave a message or find another way. They eventually left a voicemail via an official police mobile issued to the local PCSO. Either that, or they knock your door. Simples 
Not for me. When a GP calls you it comes up as withheld. General stuff is often sent via SMS, though.
NHS calls may show caller ID on occasion but are largely withheld, too. Different NHS areas must be moving at different paces.
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Good luck getting the NHS to email, old chap.
It’s the same for me, I think GP stuff is more local than that even, depends what services your surgery makes use of and how they configure them.
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Yes, and different surgeries can even use different apps for online prescriptions, medical records, etc. (although most of the things they offer are available via the NHS app, anyway).
I’m fortunate that my surgery has configured pretty much everything available via the app that they use (prescriptions, medical records, full history of vaccinations right back to birth, test results, etc.)
Edit: Sorry mods - this thread’s drifting off topic, too…
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I hate to add to it, but it’s been some really good and interesting discourse. A good faith derailment at least.
On the topic of NHS variances and the variety of apps they deploy, I wish we’d start to see more of them plug into Apple Health. It’s still just the two trial GPs on board from 3 or 4 years ago.
But at this point I’d settle for anything, because we don’t have anything digital really. There was a web portal out of the 1990’s for the Covid vaccines that no longer exists. Everything is either phone or in person here, with a limited use of email for some things.
I think Scotland generally does have an app now like England does (which is where the Covid vaccines went), but we can’t use it.
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Yeah it’s disgraceful how many disparate systems there are and how fundamentally reliant the NHS is on sending bits of paper to places. I’m glad the Labour Party is promising reform as it’s totally wrong to chuck more money at the system as it presently stands (although more money will absolutely be needed).
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Question:
Which bank (if any) would you most trust to look after you in the event that you became a victim of online fraud?
(I became such yesterday…….
).
If it’s an APP scam, any bank signed up to the code over any that isn’t
A good thought provoking question though. Not sure I have an answer (for your or myself!). I suppose for me, off the top of my head, I’d have to say Barclays. They’ve always had my back when it’s counted.
In terms of features that better help protect you from fraud, Chase probably. In terms of banks that are really on their game and who I’d trust to protect me proactively from data breaches; it’s gotta be the fintechs. Specifically Monzo. That whole TicketMaster thing was too impressive to ignore, and I’d like to think they’re still that same bank under the hood, even if the bureaucracy of being a much bigger bank now prevents them from being so open about it.
And I guess that’s the thing.
Shocked though I initially was (and still a bit uncomfortable) the responses I’ve had in this past 24 hours have been most reassuring.
My answer to my question, by the way, is Santander.
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What happened Graham?
First noticed online access was blocked. Phoned the fraud line to learn that someone had successfully changed my registered phone number and in so doing had made a couple of withdrawals.
I’d been sent an OTP which they seem to have intercepted.
For some reason which currently evades me, Santander got suspicious at the amounts and blocked access……
All new online ID now in place. Monies refunded.
Really supportive comms.
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That is hugely worrying. I guess if I delve deep enough on’t 'tinernet, I’d discover how this can be done. All of my debit cards are frozen at all times up to the point I’m about to purchase something, though clearly Apple Pay and Google Pay are unaffected if I understand correctly?
It’s like this whole AI voice recognition theft being used to scam victims. This is why I’m on silence unknown callers and I don’t have a personal voicemail message set up with my network provider.
We can never be 100 percent locked down enough to prevent being scammed, but we can try and make life difficult for the scumbags trying to rip us off.
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Yes. I’m wondering where I may have dropped my guard. It’s certainly left a few nerve-endings jangling.
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Are you on Android or iPhone?
If on Android, have you looked in manage my devices to make sure no one else is linked into your Google account?
Also, in Google security, they have a search function which allows one off scans to see if your email address or phone number has been leaked on the dark web.
Check for any unfamiliar apps on your device
I have Bitdefender installed on my Android tablet, runs a full malware scan. I’m guessing someone somewhere has installed spyware on a device you use…