Security News > 2022 > January > Coronavirus SMS scam offers home PCR testing devices – don’t fall for it!
As you probably know, PCR tests, which currently require processing in a laboratory, are considered more accurate than self-administered lateral flow tests.
PCR tests are both advised and free in the UK if you already have coronavirus symptoms, or have been in contact with someone who's infectious.
As you can imagine, for anyone who is self-employed but who needs to be out and about for their job - plumbers, electricians, care workers, painters and dozens of other professions - a home testing device that could reduce the time to receive a trustworthy result would be very useful.
Even better, for people who are self-employed and visit lots of other houesholds to do their jobs, is that a home testing device could allow workers to test so rapidly and reliably that they might even be able turn up at their appointments with a fresh and verifiable "COVID test pass" performed that very morning.
You can't book a coronavirus test online without providing a mobile phone number in advance, ready to receive the test results by text.
Is the story likely? No. Test results may come by SMS, but offers of amazing new experimental medical equipment don't! Does the link look likely? No. NHS links usually end NHS dot OK, wereas this one has a weird-looking dot COM address.