ALERT OVER FAKE COVID MARSHALS
Bogus officials are demanding ‘fines’ for non-compliance
BUSINESSES are being warned to beware of criminals posing as covid compliance officers and fining unsuspecting people for supposed rule-breaking
The scam has been revealed as Portsmouth, Havant and Gosport enter tier three of covid restrictions — the highest level.
Portsmouth City Council’s deputy leader, Cllr Steve Pitt, said the authority was working with police to crack down on the fraudsters.
BRAZEN fraudsters posing as Covid marshals handing out fake fines have been branded ‘outrageous’.
Portsmouth City Council warned people have posed as the authority’s business compliance officers aiming to sting pubs and shops.
It comes as one Southsea pub was targeted by a scammer but did not dish out a fraudulent fine as nothing in the premises gave the man even the slightest justification for trying on his con trick.
Council leader Gerald Vernon-Jackson said: ‘It’s outrageous, it’s ripping people off, taking advantage of people. ‘It's totally unacceptable when we’re all trying to fight to keep everybody well. I’m really not impressed.’
Among the businesses targeted was the O’Neills pub in Albert Road, Southsea.
Staff were called by an anonymous person posing as a Covid marshal who said he would be on site in an hour.
When he arrived he showed a Portsmouth City Council lanyard and was shown around the staff room, kitchen and bar.
Craig McCloud, general manager, said: ‘He rocked up at the door with ID and pen and paper, and that sort of thing, and got walked around the business.
‘They were taken back of house, they looked at the staff room, kitchen, and gave us a fresh bill of health and walked out the door.’
Mr McCloud added: ‘It was a case of where we’re so hot on things there was nothing they could even contemplate to give us a fake fine.
‘They’re probably aiming at smaller businesses.’
The ruse was only uncovered when later that day, December 12, city council officials conducted a check for Covid compliance.
Mr McCloud’s team queried the two visits. Council staff went away and checked, with police later telling staff the first was not an official visit.
Hampshire police are now investigating the ‘concerns raised to us about an individual claiming to be performing Covid-19 compliance checks’.
A spokesman added: ‘Enquiries are ongoing to establish who the individual was, if any offences were committed, and whether this is linked to any other incidents that Portsmouth City Council make us aware of.
‘Police officers or council officials will never ask for a fine to be paid on-the-spot and will be able to provide valid ID to prove their identity.’
It comes after several firms have been fined by police for regulations breaches.
Cllr Steve Pitt, deputy council leader, said there had been ‘a number of reports of people falsely claiming to be council officials’.
He added: ‘Our officers will have clearly visible ID, as well as high-visibility clothing, clearly marked with the Portsmouth City Council logo. If you're suspicious that someone is posing as a council official or asking you to pay a fine on the spot, call the police.’
We shouldn’t be surprised that con artists will adapt to their circumstances in a bid to make a quick buck.
No doubt in Bethlehem a couple of millennia ago there were shifty blokes on corners taking down payments on rooms at inns that never materialised; scamming and trickery is sadly a part of human nature, and goodness knows we report on it enough.
But there is something particularly annoying about the news that fake Covid marshals are trying to rip off businesses in Portsmouth. There have been several reports of this phenomenon, although thank goodness at least one establishment – O’Neills in Southsea – gave the imposter no chance to try to demand a fine.
We’ve reported the trials and tribulations that businesses have faced in 2020. While everyone’s health must remain a priority, we’ve encouraged our readers to support local firms in a bid to help companies get through lockdowns and tiered restrictions. Most people have displayed a common humanity this year; sadly, clearly not all have.
Now that most of The News area is under tier three, cafes, pubs and restaurants have had to close. But today we still appeal to shops to take note of this con trick, and to be very aware. Be suspicious of every phone call that you cannot substantiate. Do not take for granted that someone turning up to perform an inspection is legitimate. Do not believe any phone numbers that you are handed by that person – check with the local authority using a number that you look up yourself, not that they hand you. And never hand over cash.
The Covid marshals scheme is a sensible way of keeping customers safe, and should at root be about helping businesses, not about penalising them.
That is the ethos of the genuine marshals – it’s sad that this is being abused. But being alert can help to banish them.