Coronavirus Related Scams

Please read the message from Action Fraud.

Coronavirus-related scams are on the rise. There was a 400% increase in coronavirus-related scams in March, with victim losses totalling almost £970,000.

The majority of the reports are related to online shopping scams were people have ordered protective face masks, hand sanitiser, and other products, which have never arrived. Also, it has been reported about Coronavirus-themed phishing emails attempting to trick people into opening malicious attachments or revealing sensitive personal and financial information.

What to do?

Don’t click on the links or attachments in suspicious emails.
Never respond to unsolicited messages and calls that ask for your personal or financial details.
If you are making a purchase from a company or person you don’t know and trust, carry out some research first, and ask a friend or family member for advice first.
Where possible use a credit card to make the payment, as most major credit card providers insure online purchases.
Always install the latest software and app updates to protect your device from the latest threat.

Here’s where you can get the latest in-formation on how to protect yourself: https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/covid19

Share this information with friends and family, protect yourself and others