DON’T FALL for these SCAMS

Whether charging for fake vaccines, offering non-existent benefits or sending nuisance messages, scammers are using confusion surrounding Covid-19 to fleece millions of pounds – and valuable personal data – from their unsuspecting victims. Figures released in March this year revealed that, over the first 12 months of the pandemic, more than £34.5m had been stolen in England, Wales and Northern Ireland alone. Then, in May, the National Cyber Security Centre announced that it had taken down more scams in the past year than it had in the previous three years combined. It found 43 fake NHS Covid-19 apps and an uptick in the number of scams using NHS branding. Here are the latest scams to watch out for…

FAKE PPE SELLERS Scammers are trying to ‘sell’ protective equipment, hand gel and other cleaning staples that never arrive. Action Fraud has recorded reports of phishing emails – made to look like they come from the World Health Organization (WHO) or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – encouraging recipients to hand over email passwords and bank card details, or open malicious attachments.

‘WE HAVE A PARCEL FOR YOU!’

An increasing number of scammers are using text messages to alert their victims to non-existent packages, apparently being held until postage or import duties are paid. Such messages usually contain a link that, when clicked, will ask for bank details. Needless to say, any money withdrawn from your account goes to the scammer, not the postal service.

FREE MONEY... HMRC is also being used as a front for text scams. Texts containing links to claim forms promising government grants in return for your credit or debit card details are becoming commonplace, with HMRC telling

Sky News that it has detected 275 coronavirus-related financial scams since March and had more than 250 web pages taken down. HMRC is also aware of an automated phone call scam that tells you HMRC is filing a lawsuit against you, and to press 1 to speak to a caseworker to make a payment. Never do this.

• Visit reassura.com for a list of scams relating to Covid-19