Coronavirus scams: how to stay safe

Many people in the UK are already struggling financially because of coronavirus. The last thing they need is to lose even more money. But the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau says that victims have already lost almost a million pounds to coronavirus scams.

We’ve rounded up details of some of the most common scams and advice on how to avoid them. Take a look, and make sure the older and more vulnerable people in your life know how to keep themselves and their money safe.

 

Don’t be taken in by SMS coronavirus scams

Some of the worst scams we’ve seen over the last few days have been sent by SMS.

At the time of writing, the UK government has only sent out one official text message to the UK public. It says:

‘GOV.UK CORONAVIRUS ALERT New rules in force now: you must stay at home. More info & exemptions at gov.uk/coronavirus Stay at home. Protect the NHS. Save lives.’

You may have seen other text messages claiming to be from the government. They may say that you can claim money, or that you must pay a fine for leaving the house. These messages are fraudulent. Don’t click on any links, give out any personal details, or do anything that these texts ask you to do.

 

Other coronavirus scams

• Online shopping scams. Watch out for people offering to sell things that are in great demand at the moment, such as face masks and hand sanitiser. Some people have reported paying a lot of money for these items, only to find they never arrive.
• Phishing emails. These are always common. But a lot of criminals seem to have added a coronavirus twist to their usual phishing scams. Be very wary of emails claiming to be from HMRC or the NHS.
• Financial services scams. Be wary of emails inviting you to pay upfront to take out a loan or another form of credit. And if you receive any contact from your bank, make sure it’s really them – see the Know Fraud, No Fraud link below.
• Insurance fraud. Some people have reported calls or emails from scammers imitating insurance firms. They may offer you life insurance, or help recovering money lost from holidays or weddings cancelled due to coronavirus.
• Doorstep scams. There have been reports of criminals taking advantage of people who are self-isolating or working from home. They may pretend to sell cleaning services, or offer to run errands. These should be easy to spot – because nobody should be coming to your door at the moment at all!

How to protect yourself against coronavirus scams

To avoid falling prey to a coronavirus scam, Action Fraud advise that you should:

Watch out for scam messages

• Don’t click on the links or attachments in suspicious emails. Signs that an email may not be genuine include a lot of spelling/and or grammar mistakes, a long or complicated email address, and anything that asks for your financial details.
• Never respond to unexpected messages or calls asking for your personal details or bank details. Even if the callers claims to be from an organisation you know, like your bank or an insurance firm, remember that it may not be genuine. The British Bankers’ Association run a campaign called Know Fraud, No Fraud, which lists eight things your bank will never do when they call you or email you. If you’re not sure, hang up, restart your phone, then call the company on a number you know is genuine.

Take care when shopping online

• Has something on a social media ‘marketplace’ page taken your eye? Do some research before buying anything from someone you don’t know.
• It’s a good idea to ask a friend or family member for a second opinion before completing the purchase.
• For more information on how to shop online safely, including how to spot a fake website, please visit Action Fraud’s website.

Protect your devices from the latest threats

• Always install the latest software and app updates to protect your phone, tablet or computer.
• You can find information on how to update your devices on the National Cyber Security Centre

Be aware of doorstep scams

• Turn away any strangers offering services such as cleaning.
• Don’t give your cash, bank cards or credit cards to anyone offering to run errands for you.
• Ask for ID from anyone who says they are from a health service, utilities company or similar.
• Make sure your older and vulnerable loved ones are alert to these risks too.

There is further advice on the FCA’s ScamSmart website about how to protect yourself. If you suspect someone has tried to scam you, call Action Fraud straight away on 0300 123 2040.

We’ll be posting regular updates for customers on our website https://www.financialwellnessgroup.co.uk/blog/ so please keep checking for more information. We’ll also be updating our Facebook page regularly: https://www.facebook.com/financialwellnessgroup – so please follow us there too. We are also on Twitter at https://twitter.com/finwellgrp.