A WARNING has been issued about a scam email that claims to offer “free Omicron PCR tests”.

The scam email was highlighted on Dudley Council’s Facebook page, with a warning to residents not to click on the link in message.

Scammers pretending to be from the NHS claim to be offering a “test” for the new Omicron variant.

The email asks the recipient to order a test by clicking the link.

It is false however as tests for Covid-19, whether PCR or lateral flow tests, are the same for all variants.

Home test kits can also only ordered from the gov.uk website.

NHS bosses have urged Dudley residents to check sources such as the NHS, CCG or council websites if in doubt about testing.

Sally Roberts, Chief Nursing Officer for NHS Black Country and West Birmingham Clinical Commissioning Group, said: "It's very disappointing to see scammers preying on people's health concerns and we'd encourage local people to be vigilant about email communications that claim to be from the NHS.

"If you have any doubt, don't click any links in the email and instead check with a trusted source such as the NHS or CCG websites, or your local council, where the most up to date information and advice on COVID-19 is always available - safely and free of charge."

Council chiefs have also advised residents not to reply to any suspicious emails.

Councillor Nicolas Barlow, cabinet member for health and adult social care, said: “Email scams are very common and we see a huge variety reported to our scams unit on a regular basis.

“Often things to look out for to suggest an email might not be genuine is an unusual email address that the message has come from or bad spelling and grammar.

“We always say if in doubt, don’t and just because something looks like it should be genuine doesn’t mean it is. Never reply to a suspicious email.

“People who are unsure or have concerns they may have been targeted can contact our scams unit on 01384 818871 or via trading.standards@dudley.gov.uk”