And the other corona tricks to look out for
DOORSTEP DANGER
COMMUNITIES are being warned of a rise in criminals preying on older or vulnerable people isolated from family and friends.
Fraudsters are reportedly gaining access to homes by offering to take residents’ temperatures or to sell virus tests, masks and hand sanitiser.
National Trading Standards has also warned of criminals posing as charity workers and volunteering to do people’s shopping. The agency has urged people to be vigilant and ask for ID from anyone who claims to represent a charity.
FAKE BUSINESSES
FRAUDSTERS are also targeting cashstrapped businesses applying for emergency funds. Cyber-criminals send emails purporting to be from HMRC, asking firms to give out bank details in order to access the Government’s coronavirus job retention scheme. Scammers are also posing as the police and issuing fines to businesses via email for ‘trading unlawfully’ during the pandemic.
PHISHING ON RISE
THESE are emails that try to trick recipients into clicking on links that download viruses or give away passwords. Action Fraud has flagged messages mimicking organisations such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.
As world leaders announced economic stimuli to mitigate losses, reports of fake messages from HMRC offering ‘ goodwill payments’ of up to £ 258 surfaced almost immediately. When schools closed, the Department for Education warned of a scam email designed to steal bank details. Councils soon began warning of a text scam trying to dupe residents into paying fake fines for breaking lockdown rules.
Holidaymakers are also told to be wary of scam websites set up to claim refunds on cancelled trips.
The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) flagged an email pretending to offer £500 Aldi vouchers. Action Fraud reported a similar scam in Tesco’s name. CTSI lead officer Katherine Hart says: ‘This kind of scam is an old one, but scammers have updated the theme to reflect the coronavirus pandemic.’
SAVERS TARGETED
SAVERS have been urged to avoid making rash pension decisions as criminals look to exploit fears over market turmoil. Some phishing emails have targeted investors starved of income. Others advertise ‘early access’ pension offers, according to Tom Selby of AJ Bell. Many claim to guarantee sky-high returns.
This month, the Pensions Regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority and the Money and Pensions Service issued a joint statement urging people not to make snap decisions about pensions in the crisis.
Meanwhile, Britons have been swindled out of more than £800,000 attempting to buy fake masks online, says the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau.
Criminals are also reportedly flogging potentially harmful hand sanitiser containing glutaral (or glutaraldehyde), which was banned for human use in 2014.
MIRACLE CURE LIES
DON’T sign up for virus testing kits, vaccines or miracle cures. Only the NHS is providing certified tests and there are currently no vaccines or cures.
Anyone self-isolating and running low on food or medical supplies should contact their council. Do not accept services being offered by strangers.
Government departments and health agencies will not send emails with links to click on and if you’re getting an email from an organisation you are already a member of, it will normally address you by name.
Check the source of emails and the information it is providing by going to the relevant official website — for example, the gov.uk address.
If you think you have been a victim, report it to Action Fraud (0300 123 2040). You can also tell your bank or credit card provider if you have transferred any funds by mistake.
Never hand over personal information, such as your bank details, to someone who has called you out of the blue — even if they say that they are from a legitimate organisation.