Residents asked to remain vigilant when it comes to Covid-19 scams

Leicestershire police are asking people to look out for each other and protect communities from fraudsters.

Nationally there have been reports of people purchasing face masks online which either don’t exist or are faulty, people are being encouraged to click on fake Gov.UK websites, texts and emails and being asked to donate to charities.

The Government has issued advice to help prevent these scams and are encouraging people to Stop, Challenge and Protect themselves.

Stop – take a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information

Challenge – could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you

Protect – if you think you’ve fallen for a scam, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud

Nicole McIntyre from the force’s economic crime unit, said: “We know Action Fraud have received a number of reports from people who have been the victim of fraud connected to the Coronavirus.

“We want to ensure that our communities remain safe and are not the victims of opportunist fraudsters. We ask that you follow the Government advice and ensure your friends and relatives are also aware of these offences."