Orbiplot

Is it really NHS?

Official NHS domains, how well they block forged email, lookalike domains we found, and the scams currently using the NHS name. Last checked 14 October 2026.

Strong spoof protection9 unattributed lookalikes

Official NHS domains

nhs.uk

Real NHS emails and websites use these domains or a subdomain of them. Anything else, including addresses that contain the NHS name, is not NHS.

Paste the sender's email address, the link, or the website from the message.

Try:

Measured from public DNS

Can someone fake a NHS email?

nhs.ukStrong spoof protection

Strong. nhs.uk tells receiving mail servers to reject email that fakes an @nhs.uk address. Scammers usually switch to lookalike domains instead, so check the domain carefully.

DMARC policy
p=reject
SPF
-all
Verified logo in inbox (BIMI)
No
Encrypted delivery (MTA-STS)
No
Email handled by
Self-hosted

Strict. Only the servers nhs.uk lists may send its email, everything else fails.

DMARC is the rule a domain owner publishes telling mail servers what to do with email that pretends to come from them. The stronger it is, the more likely scammers switch to lookalike domains, which is why the next section matters.

Lookalike domain watch

Domains that imitate NHS

143

Names checked

13

Registered

9

Owner unknown, active

3

Can receive email

We check misspellings, look-alike characters, and the NHS name combined with words like “refund”, “rebate”, “tax” across common domain endings. A registered lookalike is not proof of a scam: companies often register typos of their own name to protect customers. But you should never trust a message from one.

Active, owner unknown

DomainWebsiteEmailRegisteredFirst spotted
nhs.netYesCan receiveUnknown14 October 2026
nhs.comYesNoUnknown14 October 2026
nhs.orgYesCan receiveUnknown14 October 2026
nhs.infoYesNoUnknown14 October 2026
nhs.coYesNoUnknown14 October 2026
nhs.appYesNoUnknown14 October 2026
nhs-gov.comYesNoUnknown14 October 2026
nhsgov.comYesNoUnknown14 October 2026
nhsonline.infoYesNoUnknown14 October 2026

Listed as plain text on purpose. Do not visit these domains.

Parked or for sale (3)
nhs-online.comnhsonline.comnhsservice.com
Registered but not hosting a site or email (1)
nhs.online

Know the pattern

Scams using the NHS name

Government impersonation uses fear: refunds you are owed, penalties you must pay today, or legal action.

A tax refund is waiting

A message says you are owed a refund and asks for bank or card details so it can be paid.

Pay now or face legal action

You are told you owe money or face arrest unless you pay immediately, often by gift card, wire transfer or crypto.

Unpaid toll, fine or vehicle tax

A text says you owe a small toll, fine or tax and must pay through a link today.

From people who received them

Reported NHS scam messages

No reports published for NHS yet. If you received one, sharing it helps the next person recognise it.

Step by step

How to check a message that claims to be from NHS

  1. 1

    Look at the actual sender address, not just the name. Tap or hover over the name to reveal it. It must end in @nhs.uk, or a subdomain of one.

  2. 2

    Do not use links or phone numbers from the message. Type nhs.uk into your browser or open the official NHS app, and check your account there.

  3. 3

    Slow down when you see urgency, small fees, gift cards, crypto, or requests for codes and passwords. Those are the levers every scam pulls.

  4. 4

    Still unsure? Paste the sender address or link into the checker above.

Questions

NHS scam FAQ

What email address does NHS use?

Genuine NHS email comes from addresses ending in @nhs.uk, or a subdomain of those (for example something@mail.nhs.uk). An address on any other domain, even one containing "nhs", is not NHS.

Can scammers fake an @nhs.uk email address?

Strong. nhs.uk tells receiving mail servers to reject email that fakes an @nhs.uk address. Scammers usually switch to lookalike domains instead, so check the domain carefully.

Are there websites pretending to be NHS?

On 14 October 2026 we checked 143 lookalike domain names and found 13 registered. 0 appear to be owned by NHS or a brand-protection service, 3 are parked or for sale, and 9 could not be linked to NHS while hosting a website or accepting email. A registered lookalike is not proof of a scam, but any message from one deserves suspicion.

What should I do if I clicked a link in a fake NHS message?

Do not enter anything else. If you typed a password, change it at nhs.uk straight away and turn on two-step sign-in. If you entered card or bank details, call your bank using the number on your card. Then report the message using the guide below.

Help stop it

Where to report a fake NHS message

United Kingdom

  • Forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk
  • Forward scam texts to 7726

United States

  • Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
  • Forward phishing emails to reportphishing@apwg.org
  • Forward scam texts to 7726 (SPAM)

Canada

  • Report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca
  • Forward scam texts to 7726

Australia

  • Report to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au
  • Report cybercrime through ReportCyber at cyber.gov.au

India

  • Report at cybercrime.gov.in or call the 1930 helpline

Germany

  • Forward phishing emails to the Phishing-Radar at phishing@verbraucherzentrale.nrw

Switzerland

  • Report phishing websites at antiphishing.ch

Anywhere

  • Report phishing websites to Google Safe Browsing at safebrowsing.google.com
  • Tell the company through its official website or app

Government & Tax

Check other companies

Orbiplot is not affiliated with NHS. This page is generated automatically from public data: DNS records, domain registration data (RDAP) and the Internet Archive. Lookalike domains are listed because they resemble NHS's name, not because we have confirmed any wrongdoing. If you own a domain listed here and believe it is misclassified, contact us through the site and we will review it.