Ruthless fraudsters posing as contact tracers – and how you can beat them
SCOTS were last night warned not to fall victim to scammers who could be posing as coronavirus contact tracers.
It is feared that gangs of fraudsters will try to take advantage of the Scottish Government’s test and trace initiative to steal personal data.
Ministers have now drawn up guidelines for the public so that they can be confident that they are dealing with genuine tracers.
Scotland has the capacity to deliver 15,000 tests a day, with 2,000 tracers already in place.
Last night, the Scottish Government said that official tracers will introduce themselves and always identify the person they have contacted by name.
It added that tracers will only ask for details about the movements of people they have contacted, and those they have been within two metres of in the previous 48 hours. Importantly, tracers will never ask for personal information such as bank accounts or medical records and they will not offer services or try to sell anything. They may also send a text message or email to provide links to online guidance and support.
The Scottish Government has also promised that all data collected will be deleted once the pandemic has passed.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: ‘Contact tracers will focus on supporting public health teams to identify outbreaks and reduce transmission in high-risk groups and settings by making it easier for staff to collect information. We understand that people are alert to the risks of potential phone scams. Public Health Scotland is undertaking work to reassure people when contacted.
‘The primary method of getting in touch will be by phone call or text message.’
Consumer experts have also urged Scots to be vigilant.
Marjorie Gibson, head of operations at consumeradvice.scot, said: ‘Unfortunately, we know that scammers are trying to take advantage of people during these uncertain times.’
Meanwhile, frontline police officers have called for greater clarity over how they should respond to members of the public who state that they are infected with coronavirus.
Some fear that entire shifts could be forced to self-isolate if an officer discovers that they have been in contact with someone who is suffering from the disease.
Calum Steele, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, said: ‘There is a distinct lack of clarity in respect of what is meant to happen.
‘By every conceivable measure police officers arresting those who are, or who claim to be, Covid-19 positive hit the definition for testing and isolating.’
A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: ‘Police Scotland has confirmed that it is confident of the measures in place to protect officers, staff and their families.’
‘Scammers are trying to take advantage’