NHS Western Isles has confirmed that a patient was targeted with a scam email asking for photos and videos of themselves following a breast screening appointment. The health board said the fraudulent email claimed to be from a health professional and requested the images "for assessment".
Health board response
NHS Western Isles said it was reviewing the incident and that it took patient confidentiality and information security "extremely seriously", reports BBC Scotland. According to the health board, the scam email originated from a non-NHS email address, and it has urged other patients to be alert to similar emails.
Official reassurance and advice
A spokesperson for the health board said: "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."
"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."
