The Department of Health is warning about emails and text messages impersonating its HIV testing service. The messages claim recipients may be at risk of HIV and should seek medical care and testing quickly. The department says it did not send them and does not notify individuals of risk in this way.
The department said the service’s email account was suspected of improper use. It had found no data loss or leakage so far. The HIV testing service website was suspended from 24 October while security checks were carried out.
Anyone receiving a suspicious message should not click its links or provide personal information, the department said. People who have shared information or suspect they have been scammed should contact police.
While the website is suspended, people can still call the HIV hotline to arrange free, anonymous and confidential HIV antibody testing.