Covid scammers are new disease
WE’VE been through the pandemic, the NHS app pingdemic… and now we’re in a full-on scamdemic.
The many fallouts from the pandemic are proving a breeding ground for fraudsters – it now feels like there is a greater risk of being scammed than of catching Covid.
Yet the Government has announced that Action Fraud, the organisation set up to deal with fraud, is to be scrapped and replaced with a new set-up.
And we don’t yet know precisely what the replacement will look like, or when it will come.
To help you stay extra vigilant, here are the current top five scams to watch out for:
1. NHS TRACK AND TRACE APP
With many of us relying on the app, fraudsters know people are likely to trust communications about it.
This has led to a lot of scams, ranging from sending a link telling you to “reload” the app (leading to personal information being stolen) to demands to pay a fine for alleged self-isolation breaches.
2. VACCINE PASSPORTS
“Double-jab and go” – letting travellers with both vaccine shots avoid quarantine on return from countries on the amber list – has been welcomed by many.
But it has given fraudsters another opportunity. Victims have had emails, texts and calls claiming to be from the Government or NHS, telling them they must now
apply for a vaccine passport. It comes with a link to click on to make their application, which of course leads to a scam.
3. CHEAP HOLIDAYS
Covid has caused widespread cancellations of trips. Fraudsters have jumped on this, convincing many victims they have a chance to “buy a cancelled holiday” on the cheap.
4. HOLIDAY & EVENT REFUNDS
In the early part of the pandemic consumers were struggling to obtain refunds from airlines, holiday providers and event organisers.
When they were approached by fraudsters offering to chase their refund for them, many victims grabbed the opportunity. Some were simply asked to provide various pieces of personal information “to process the claim”, others were asked for a small payment. In either case, it’s a scam.
5. COVID BENEFITS
The Government has promoted several Covid-related benefits during the pandemic, ranging from the furlough scheme to additional benefit payments.
Fraudsters have taken advantage of this as a cover story for contacting and scamming victims.
Many have been told they are due a Covid cash payment but rather than get any money they have given away personal information and, ultimately, been scammed.