Cancer scare hoax email claims "Important blood analysis result"

By

Jenny Hope

|

Thousands of people have been sent a distressing hoax email telling them they have cancer, a health watchdog has warned.

The message appears to be from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice), and carries the subject line: ‘Important blood analysis result.’

Seeming to come from an official Nice email address, it advises the recipient that their white blood cell count was found to be low after a recent blood test, and that they should visit their GP immediately as cancer is suspected.

The message appears to be from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice), and carries the subject line: ‘Important blood analysis result’

Nice said it has been bombarded with phone calls following the hoax, and that those who have had blood tests recently have been particularly alarmed.

The email says: ‘We have been sent a sample of your blood analysis for further research. During the complete blood count (CBC) we have revealed that white blood cells is very low, and unfortunately we have a suspicion of a cancer.

‘We suggest you to print out your CBC test results and interpretations in attachment below and visit your family doctor as soon as possible.’

Sir Andrew Dillon, Nice chief executive, said: ‘A spam email purporting to come from Nice is being sent to members of the public regarding cancer test results.

‘This email is likely to cause distress to recipients since it advises that “test results” indicate they may have cancer. 

‘This malicious email is not from Nice and we are currently investigating its origin. We take this matter very seriously and have reported it to the police.’

Nice is advising people who have received the email to delete it without opening it, and not to click on any links as it may contain a computer virus.

A spokesman said it was not clear exactly how many people have been affected, but the high number of calls to the organisation yesterday suggests it could have been sent to thousands.

Michelle Kelly, 30, received the email yesterday morning at work.

The call centre manager, who works in Liverpool, was worried by the message, particularly as she had blood tests for a kidney problem a few weeks ago and has a history of cancer in her family. She said: ‘I’m used to getting spam but when I saw that email, because I’ve had blood tests done recently, your heart sinks.

‘I did think it could be spam as it had a zip file attached and I know not to open spam emails, but there was a chart saying that  my white blood cell count was low and it was from a nice.org.uk email address.

Seeming to come from an official Nice email address, it advises the recipient that their white blood cell count was found to be low after a recent blood test, and that they should visit their GP immediately as cancer is suspected

‘I don’t know what offends me more – if I received that news via email or that someone is that malicious and they want to get a virus on to my computer that much that they would do something like this.’

Distressed, she called her boyfriend Chris Stebbings, an IT specialist, to tell him about the email.

Mr Stebbings, 30, from Newcastle, said: ‘Michelle called me straight away and was in a bit of a state – as you would be.

‘We’re quite savvy when it comes to things like this and know what a spam email looks like, but you see the word cancer and you don’t think anyone would do that.’

Vicky Townshend, 60, also received the spam email yesterday morning.

The self-employed secretary from Lewes, East Sussex, said: ‘It was very unpleasant but I did think it was spam.

‘It had grammatical errors and a zip file attached. I had a blood test about a year ago but I don’t think it was related. I think the people behind it are disgusting and I was very annoyed about it, but it was just too ridiculous.’

Nice has been using its Twitter account to reassure concerned recipients that the emails, which it claims are coming from India and Turkey, are a hoax.

It said the spam attack was not caused by hacking, as the organisation does not hold patient data.

Comments (14)

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shaz,

London,

40 minutes ago

I received this email too ,what is wrong with these people ,

Matt,

Here and there., Germany,

44 minutes ago

I wonder how many people who have not had a blood test recently are stupid enough to call the NICE and bloc the phone lines up……..?

Martin,

earth, United Kingdom,

1 hour ago

Seriously? Firstly check the email address if your concerned secondly.. you would know if you had a blood test. And thirdly.. If you had blood test results your GP would call you if it was very important.. scammers these days are silly.

sunny,

NERTHERTON, Saudi Arabia,

1 hour ago

I received this email even though you know it is a scam it does stick in your mind-there are some very sick people out there if this is how they get their kicks !!!

Sharon,

Longfield, United Kingdom,

2 hours ago

Eh you would only be distressed if you had been for blood tests.

redskelf,

Bexhill, United Kingdom,

2 hours ago

As if, you would be given this information by email. Wise up. Do your scam homework.

Britsneedwakingup,

Tokyo, Japan,

2 hours ago

Despicable. More and more people suffer with health anxiety, and a scam like this could push some people over the edge.

andrewj66496190,

kent, United Kingdom,

4 hours ago

People spotted a scam straight away by email, what happened to them ?

Dave,

Buena Vista Virginia, United States,

5 hours ago

If you didn’t have a blood test, enter a sweepstake or contest, or have an account at a bank never open anything sent to you referencing these things. If you did have a recent blood test the results would have been sent to the doctor or clinic where the test was administered and they would be the ones contacting you. At least that is the procedure over here, don’t know if it is the same in the UK. If you think the blood test results are actually legitimate then phone the place, such as NICE, that is the purported origin of the email using the listed number for that organization, not a number given in the email, to verify the email before you open anything. The person who sent this is SCUM of the lowest order.

enzo,

wokingham,

5 hours ago

Funny thing is they will be believed because the uk sheeple are so gullible and thick.

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Cancer scare hoax email claims "Important blood analysis result"