We all need healthcare at some point or another. But when seeking treatments and medication in the UK, patients often fall victim to scams embedded within the healthcare industry. Although we’ve seen a drop in scams over the past years, the average cost of a scam has increased. The Association of British Insurers estimated the average value of an insurance scam at £15,000 in 2022. This is an incredibly costly mistake for any British patient to make. So, in this article, we will cover the online scams in the UK healthcare industry: what do they look like? How can you personally avoid them? Let’s dive right in…
UK healthcare scams: the 7 most common types
#1. NHS email impersonation
From 6.4 million reported suspicious emails in 2022, no other institution was impersonated more than the National Health Service (NHS). It’s pretty simple, too — when we see the sender is the NHS, we immediately trust the message’s intent. These emails often ask you to log in to your account by following a link or ask you to call a specific phone number. In the cybersecurity world, this is day-one social engineering. As a general rule, never hand over private data via email, phone, or social media.
#2. Prescription medication and equipment counterfeiting
You’d like to think that people wouldn’t stoop as low as selling fake medication to sick patients. Well, it’s all too true, as the bargains on offer are too enticing for consumers to ignore. Scammers also create fake listings for expensive medical equipment like walkers and diabetes kits. If you do purchase from these sellers, the products are often never delivered or not in any kind of working state.
#3. Fake insurance company
Insurance companies are a necessary evil — you‘d rather not deal with them but there aren’t any better alternatives. What’s worse is when the insurance company you’re doing business with never existed in the first place. It does sound a bit far-fetched, but you’d be surprised how common fake insurance scams are. On the outside, they resemble any other insurance broker. But once you try to make any sort of claim, you’ll encounter long waiting times or no response at all.
#4. Identity theft
Well, what would someone want with my medical data anyway? Surprisingly, there’s a lot a data thief can do with stolen medical data. With your information, scammers can:
- Apply and bill for treatments under your name;
- Claim prescription medications;
- Make false insurance claims;
- Blackmail or hold data for ransoms.
Scammers collect medical data through various mediums, including fake healthcare websites, phishing emails, data breaches, and more.
#5. Data breaches in medical institutions
Healthcare institutions like hospitals and clinics rarely get enough funding to have top-notch cybersecurity. Due to this weakness, they’re often the target of all kinds of cyber attacks. When healthcare institutions get hacked, the real victims are the customers. Including the exposure of your private medical information, these data breaches can launch a myriad of cyber attacks on you.
#6. Telehealth phishing
COVID-19 saw a massive uptick in the amount of telehealth patients. These services allow you to quickly consult a doctor over the phone regarding medical issues without the need to make an appointment. However, it’s not so hard for scammers to impersonate doctors and offer false medical information over the phone. The end goal of this scam is to steal your personal and financial data through social engineering methods.
#7. Unresearched medical treatments
Some would hesitate to call this a scam, but plenty of ex-patients would beg to differ. Don’t be seduced by health gurus and influencers, as they quite often promote unproven and untested medical treatments. Among various side effects, past victims of these bogus treatments have paid thousands in fees. Not only that, they waste their valuable time with a treatment that will never ease their condition.
Protecting your sensitive data in the UK healthcare industry
So now we know what a healthcare scam can look like, let’s focus on the simple changes you can make right now to ensure you avoid them.
Learn to spot phishing emails
A vast quantity of scams in the healthcare industry begins with phishing emails or messages. Often, they’re impersonating institutions like the NHS, asking that you supply personal data or follow a malicious link.
Use trusted healthcare institutions
The most popular healthcare providers are popular for a very good reason — reputation is a difficult thing to cultivate in the healthcare industry. If unsure, always go with a well-established company over a new but unverified healthcare provider.
Use proper cyber hygiene while online
Just as you’re hygienic in a hospital, so should you be when you browse online. Appropriate cyber hygiene includes:
- Password security and managers;
- Firewall, VPN, and antivirus software;
- Common cyberthreat knowledge;
- Data safety practices.
Stay in the loop with cybersecurity news
The landscape of cybercrime changes constantly, and often without a moment’s notice. Stay ahead of the curve by staying up to date with news about healthcare scams. If you’re informed, you’ll probably never be surprised by any new scams. Also, learn about cybersecurity and tools that could potentially safeguard your sensitive information. You can start by Googling something like “How do I hide my IP address?” and go from there.
Conclusion
In an industry focused on rehabilitation and care, the last thing you’d expect is cybercriminals taking advantage of the sick and needy. Yet, scams in the UK healthcare industry are rampant and growing steadily. Follow the tips listed here to improve your chances of avoiding a costly scam.
