Author Topic: Beware of Coronavirus Scams  (Read 1113 times)

Offline BushInn1746

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Beware of Coronavirus Scams
« on: Thursday 26 March 20 09:17 GMT (UK) »
Warning on a BBC (Midlands) website

Scam

"A text message telling you that you can claim £458 of coronavirus aid is a scam.

Birmingham City Counil has condemned what it called ‘a blitz’ of scams surrounding the virus, with criminals using the internet, telephones and doorstep calls to operate scams."

This scam is even using the Gov.uk logo.

"Birmingham’s Trading Standards team are urging residents to be aware of a number of Coronavirus-linked scams which are targeting vulnerable people across the UK."
https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/news/article/568/trading_standards_advise_residents_to_be_scam_aware

Take care.

Offline suey

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Re: Beware of Coronavirus Scams
« Reply #1 on: Thursday 26 March 20 09:21 GMT (UK) »

Dear Lord there’s always someone somewhere  >:( >:(
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Offline Musicman

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Re: Beware of Coronavirus Scams
« Reply #2 on: Thursday 26 March 20 16:28 GMT (UK) »
Callous fraudsters are spoofing official government phone numbers and impersonating the taxman in a bid to coax worried Britons into handing over money or their bank details.
One screenshot posted on social media platform Twitter by Sky News political reporter Tamara Cohen, showed scammers had managed to hijack the thread of a genuine official UK Government coronavirus alert service, which sent out a text message earlier in the week.
The message - appearing to be from the genuine number - told the recipient that  they needed to pay a £35 fine, after being 'recorded as leaving their home on three occasions'.
There are then two links that the recipient could open. These are likely to go through to dodgy websites looking to steal personal information or install malware. 
Given the current climate, many may be panicked by the message and click the link without processing the contents properly.

Full article: http://www.rootschat.com/links/01p8b/

Offline isk

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Re: Beware of Coronavirus Scams
« Reply #3 on: Thursday 26 March 20 18:09 GMT (UK) »
Hi  E-mail arrived asking that we set up a Direct Debit to pay for our TV Licence, OH over 75.  He called the TV Licencing Board and was told it was a scam - please be careful.  All stay at home and keep safe and well.  isk


Offline BushInn1746

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Re: Beware of Coronavirus Scams
« Reply #4 on: Thursday 26 March 20 18:32 GMT (UK) »
Take Great Care - Numerous scams going on everywhere
https://www.itv.com/news/central/2020-03-26/advice-for-avoiding-coronavirus-scams/

"A man has been jailed for 31 weeks after stealing an A&E receptionist's handbag at the George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton during the coronavirus pandemic" ...
https://www.itv.com/news/central/

Take care All

Offline BillyF

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Re: Beware of Coronavirus Scams
« Reply #5 on: Thursday 26 March 20 19:26 GMT (UK) »
Only 31 weeks !!!!

Offline ms_canuck

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Re: Beware of Coronavirus Scams
« Reply #6 on: Thursday 26 March 20 20:20 GMT (UK) »
Our Prime Minister warned Canadians this morning about a text which is already making the rounds telling people that they are entitled to $1,375 (CAD) from the BRAND NEW Canadian Emergency Relief Benefit (CERB)!  The website has barely gone online and already these scumbags are trying to cash in. Of course, like most of these, they are hoping to get enough personal details to clean out your bank account!

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Offline Llwyd

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Re: Beware of Coronavirus Scams
« Reply #7 on: Thursday 26 March 20 20:21 GMT (UK) »
These people really are scum. They have no qualms, morals or any sense of humanity and there are no depths to which they won't descend.
 :)
Humphreys; originating in Montgomeryshire and spreading out locally, nationally and internationally.
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Offline Maiden Stone

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Re: Beware of Coronavirus Scams
« Reply #8 on: Thursday 26 March 20 22:59 GMT (UK) »
Wash your hands of coronavirus scams
www.FriendsAgainstScams.org.uk
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