Highland heart patients are being warned to beware of phone calls telling them of problems with their home monitoring equipment and asking for money for a warranty.
NHS Highland yesterday (Friday) said it had been alerted to a phishing scam happening in the UK, which appears to be targeting cardiology patients.
The national British Heart Rhythm Society has sent an e-mail to all members warning of the fraudulent scheme, which was brought to their attention by a cardiologist.
The society was told that a patient received a phone call from an individual saying their “box” or monitoring equipment was not working due to “dust.”
The patient was offered the opportunity to replace it and offered the option of purchasing a five-year warranty for £140 or a lifetime warranty for £167.
Believing the call to be genuine, the patient paid £167.
They then called the hospital to check the “problem had been fixed.”
NHS Highland’s principal cardiac physiologist Fiona Dawson said: “I would like to assure our patients that under no circumstances would the NHS or any company we work with be making these calls and charging patients for warranties.
“Please be advised, if anyone contacts you trying to do this, do not engage, hang up the call and alert the NHS Counter Fraud team on 08000 15 16 28.”
