A phone call that tells the recipient they have been exposed to COVID-19 and to call the City-Cowley County Health Department is a scam, according to a news release from the health department Thursday.
“This morning we were alerted to phone calls being received by citizens throughout Cowley County,” the news release said. “The calls are from a 1-800 prefix (one specific number was 1-800-737-8423), and begins with the message, ‘We are calling on behalf of the Cowley County Health Department,’ and continues to tell the recipient that they have been exposed to COVID-19 and to call our office immediately to schedule testing.
“Please know that this is absolutely a scam. The City-Cowley County Health Department has not authorized any outside agencies to contact exposed citizens on our behalf.”
The health the department added that if you have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus and the health department is aware as a result of contact tracing, you will be contacted by City-Cowley County Health Department directly.
The phone number that will show on your caller ID will be a local number as well.
If you receive one of the scam calls, please hang up immediately.
