NHS Western Isles urges local residents to be aware of fraudulent Breast Screening emails

NHS Western Isles is urging members of the public to be vigilant following a report of a fraudulent email sent to a local patient claiming to be related to a recent breast screening appointment. The reported email purported to be from a healthcare professional and requested photographs or video recordings to be sent for assessment. Information provided to NHS Western Isles confirms the email originated from a non-NHS email address.

NHS Western Isles would like to reassure the public that breast screening services do not contact patients using personal or non-NHS email addresses. Patients may be contacted by letter or telephone regarding breast screening appointments, results, or follow-up arrangements, but NHS staff would never ask patients to send photographs or videos by email.

Fraudsters often use health-related concerns to create a sense of urgency or anxiety, encouraging individuals to disclose personal information or provide images that could then be misused. It is important to remember that it is always acceptable to pause, ask questions, and verify any communication that appears unusual or unexpected.

If you receive an email claiming to be from an NHS service and you are uncertain about its authenticity:

• Do not respond to the email.
• Do not send any personal information, photographs or videos.
• Do not click on any links or open any attachments.
• Check the sender's email address carefully.
• Contact the relevant NHS service directly using a trusted telephone number to verify the communication.

Anyone who receives a suspicious email of this nature should report it and seek advice before responding. If you believe you have shared personal information or images in response to a scam, you should contact Police Scotland on 101 and seek appropriate support and advice.

NHS Western Isles takes patient confidentiality and information security extremely seriously and is working with relevant colleagues to review the incident and provide advice to the patient involved.

For further information about protecting yourself against fraud and scams, visit Take Five to Stop Fraud