Alert over spike in Covid-linked scams
MORE than half a million substandard face masks have been reported to one council as Covid-19 related scams soar, local government leaders have said.
More fraudsters are exploiting coronavirus fears by selling fake and unsafe products, according to the Local Government Association (LGA), with some councils recording a 40% increase since the start of the outbreak.
The public are being warned to stay vigilant as criminals seek to trick consumers into buying fake testing kits, hand sanitisers and bogus medical products claiming to treat or prevent Covid-19.
More than 500,000 substandard face masks and 2,600 bottles of illegal hand sanitiser were taken off the market by Ealing Council, according to the LGA.
A car repair garage was reported to Havering Council after allegedly trying to sell coronavirus testing kits to customers, and a telephone conman is being investigated after posing as a Swindon Council worker sorting lockdown food parcels, in a bid to obtain a pensioner’s personal details.
Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards said the total number of complaints it has received has increased by 40% since the beginning of March.
These include a woman in her 80s who answered the door to a man who tried to demand £220 to complete a health and safety check, and scammers trying to take bank details to cover payments for school meals while schools are closed.
Residents are being tricked into buying goods online, door-to-door, by phone, text and email, the LGA said, with councils advising people not to accept services from strangers or cold callers.
Simon Blackburn, chairman of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said: “Some councils have seen a significant surge in reports of scams by criminals exploiting coronavirus fears to prey on vulnerable and older people self-isolating.
“People need to be cautious. If something doesn’t seem right or sounds too good to be true, don’t hesitate to end a phone call, bin a letter, delete an email or shut the door. It’s important that victims don’t suffer in silence or feel embarrassed.
“By reporting a scam, people can help someone else avoid being a victim of these despicable crimes and help councils track down the fraudsters, bring them to justice and recover their money.
“Councils will continue to prosecute and seek the toughest penalties for these criminals. During this unprecedented time, it’s important that everybody – relevant businesses such as banks, family, friends and neighbours – plays their role in preventing fraud from happening in the first place.”
It follows news that more than 160,000 suspicious emails were reported to a new scam-busting service in just two weeks amid an increase in coronavirus-related online fraud. The National Cyber Security Centre – part of GCHQ – has taken down 307 bogus sites in response to alerts from the public.