Brits terrified as Government emergency alert goes off early
Surprised Brits were concerned when the scheduled test of the UK Emergency Alerts service went off early.
The government warned the test would take place at 3pm today, but many noted that their alert had gone off much sooner.
On Twitter, one person wrote: "Why... was my alert two mins early? I was ready to brace for it for bang on three and made me s**t myself."
Another person added: "Knew it was coming, still s**t myself on that alert."
Some Brits decided to turn the alert off beforehand as experts and charities warned it could be dangerous for people with second phones, such as domestic abuse survivors.
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Emma Pickering, senior operations manager for the technology-facilitated abuse and economic empowerment team at charity Refuge said survivors can't use an "everyday phone".
(Getty Images/iStockphoto)She said: "We know that perpetrators are monitoring devices to make sure that they're not contacting agencies, they're not sharing any information with anybody to say that they're a victim, they're not trying to seek help or plan to leave the relationship.
"So they can't use that everyday phone. They have to have a safe device hidden somewhere that they can use to contact agencies when it's safe to do so."
The charity hands out around four burner phones a week to those seeking help.
After the alert, newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said no action was needed but in the future it might be the "sound that could save your life".
The buzzing sound could be heard in the event of impending dangers like severe flooding, extreme weather, and fires.
Only the emergency services and government departments, agencies and bodies can send alerts.
Brits should also be careful of avoiding scammers in the aftermath of the test.
Consumer group Which? issued a warning saying scammers could use text messages to try and trick people into parting with their cash.
It said: "Today at 3pm, the government will be doing a nationwide test of its new Emergency Alerts system.
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"Events like this can be a magnet for scammers looking to take advantage of the confusion
"Anything that asks you to take action from the alert is a scam."
The government does not need to know your phone number or location to send out the alert. Masts are used to send out the alert to every compatible mobile phone or tablet.
Emergency alerts work on all 4G and 5G phone networks in the UK.
Your mobile phone or tablet does not have to be connected to mobile data or Wi-Fi to get alerts.
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