Unfortunately, even in a national crisis, fraudsters think of new ways to take advantage and scam people. Since February 2020, the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau has identified 21 reports of fraud where Coronavirus was mentioned, with victim losses totaling over £800k.

Watch out for scam messages:

Don’t click on the links or attachments in suspicious emails, and never respond to unsolicited messages and calls that ask for your personal or financial details. Scam texts often include links or attachments which can’t be trusted. Don’t click on them.

Shopping online:

If you’re making a purchase from a company or person you don’t know and trust, carry out some research first, and ask a friend or family member for advice before completing the purchase. If you decide to go ahead with the purchase, use a credit card if you have one, as most major credit card providers insure online purchases.

For more information on how to shop online safely, please visit: https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/shoponlinesafely

Protect your devices from the latest threats:

Always install the latest software and app updates to protect your devices from the latest threats. For information on how to update your devices, please visit: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/securing-your-devices

• Fake advertisements for protective masks

• Fake advertisements for sanitising gel

• Fake advertisements for vaccines (these do not currently exist)

• Links to or screen shots of fake / sensational news, photos and video and unorthodox ways to gain protection, in reality designed purely to spread panic, gain clicks and sell newspapers.

• Appeals from fake charities (either with made-up names, or fraudsters impersonating real charities) for donations

• Fake offers of free school meals

• Fake offers of one-off payments from the government

• Refund Scams

1. Check the sender's email address

Are they who they claim to be? Check that their contact name matches the actual email address they’re sending from.

2. Look out for spelling and grammatical mistakes in emails

This is often a good indication that an email is a scam.

3. Try not to download files from unfamiliar people

Avoid opening attachments from an email you’re unfamiliar with. They could download viruses onto your computer or device.

4. Treat all unexpected calls, emails and text messages with caution

Do not assume they’re genuine, even if the person seems to know some basic information about you.

5. Do not assume that all information on social media is correct

Fake accounts pose various challenges for the platforms themselves, regulators and law enforcement bodies – if you’re not sure who the business or individual is, don’t part with your money or give away your bank details.

6. Only trust established outlets.

Watch out for emails and phone calls claiming to be from experts who have information about the virus. If you have questions about coronavirus, visit Public Health England’s or the World Health Organisation’s website or social media feed.

7. Don’t give away personal details

Never provide anyone with your email password, bank account details, or other pieces of information which is confidential and can be used to impersonate you.

8. Be cautious of strangers

Although most people are acting in good faith, we are aware of scammers offering to buy food for the elderly before stealing their money. It is particularly important to protect vulnerable members of society.