The NHS Business Services Authority (BSA) is warning all community pharmacy contractors that it has received reports of pharmacists being contacted by someone falsely claiming to be from the ‘PPA’ or from ‘Prescription Services’, reports PSNC.

Some pharmacists have been asked for their bank details.

"The unsolicited callers are requesting bank details after telling the contractor they are due a refund or there is a problem with a banking mandate. If the request is complied with, this could allow the caller to make a deduction from the contractor’s account," said PSNC.

"The BSA wants all contractors to be aware that no member of its team will ever contact a contractor directly and ask for bank details in this way."

Any calls of this type should be reported to the National Fraud and Cyber Crime Reporting Centre, Action Fraud, on 0300 123 2040.