Scams

We have received 41 reports of a scam email purporting to be from HM Government asking for donations to the NHS during the COVID-19 outbreak.

https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/alert/criminals-target-members-of-the-public-with-nhs-scam-emails

Scammers are targeting people in North Yorkshire with texts pretending to be from the UK government telling victims they have been fined for breaking lockdown rules.

https://www.minsterfm.com/news/local/3075359/coronavirus---lockdown-text-scam-hits-north-yorkshire/#.Xoh32FIZt5w.twitter

TWO men have been arrested in relation to seven offences of doorstep crime in East and North Ayrshire.

Detective Chief Superintendent Alastair Simpson heads up the North East Regional Special Operations Unit (NERSOU) – a dedicated team of officers from the three forces of Northumbria, Durham and Cleveland who work together to investigate serious and organised crime, under the banner of Operation Sentinel.

https://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2020-03-30/police-are-warning-people-to-stay-vigilant-after-a-rise-in-coronavirus-related-scams/

To help our investigations, report all HMRC related phishing emails and bogus text messages to us. Even if you get the same or similar phishing email or text message often, email it to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk and then delete it.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phishing-and-bogus-emails-hm-revenue-and-customs-examples/phishing-emails-and-bogus-contact-hm-revenue-and-customs-examples

Don’t believe bogus text messages saying you’ve been fined for stepping outside during the coronavirus lockdown.

https://www.which.co.uk/news/2020/03/coronavirus-scam-lookout-for-fake-lockdown-fine-texts/

Law enforcement, government and private sectors partners are working together to encourage members of the public to be more vigilant against fraud, particularly about sharing their financial and personal information, as criminals seek to capitalise on the Covid-19 pandemic.

https://www.cps.gov.uk/cps/news/beware-fraud-and-scams-during-covid-19-pandemic

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) is warning the public not to open their doors to bogus healthcare workers claiming to be offering 'home-testing' for the COVID-19 Coronavirus.

https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/news/ctsi-issues-warning-over-covid-19-home-testing-scams

From trafficking dodgy surgical masks to peddling counterfeit medicines and running internet scams, criminals are finding ways to profit from the coronavirus crisis, European police warn.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/corona-criminals-prey-europes-virus-fears-054006370.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=tw

A CONMAN boasted about his fake exploits in the British Army to swindle thousands of pounds from a pensioner in a gardening scam.

https://www.eastlothiancourier.com/news/18339951.conman-boasted-fake-army-exploits-swindle-pensioner-cash/?ref=twtrec