The public have been warned to stay vigilant to criminals selling fake coronavirus-related products.<\/p>\n
The Local Government Association said some councils have seen a “significant surge” in reports of scams by those seeking to exploit virus fears.<\/p>\n
More than 500,000 sub-standard masks were seized by a London council, while other criminals have attempted to trick people into giving personal details.<\/p>\n
The LGA is calling on the public to report scams to their local council.<\/p>\n
Fraudsters are seeking to take advantage of public fears by selling bogus medical products and other counterfeit items.<\/p>\n
The LGA – which represents councils in England and Wales – said criminals have been preying on vulnerable and older people who are self-isolating.<\/p>\n
In one case, a woman in her 80s answered the door to a man who demanded \u00a3220 to complete a health and safety check.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a telephone conman is being investigated after posing as a Swindon Council worker sorting lockdown food parcels, in a bid to obtain a pensioner’s personal details.<\/p>\n
A car repair garage was reported after allegedly trying to sell coronavirus testing kits to customers.<\/p>\n
In Ealing, 2,600 illegal bottles of hand sanitiser as well as 500,000 substandard face masks were taken off the market by the local council, according to the LGA.<\/p>\n
Residents are being tricked into buying goods online, door-to-door, by phone, text and email, the LGA said, with councils advising people not to accept services from strangers or cold callers.<\/p>\n
Simon Blackburn, chairman of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, warned the public to be “cautious”, adding: “If something doesn’t seem right or sounds too good to be true, don’t hesitate to end a phone call, bin a letter, delete an email or shut the door.”<\/p>\n
He advised people to report scams to avoid others becoming victims of these “despicable crimes” and so fraudsters could be brought to justice, with councils seeking “the toughest penalties”.<\/p>\n
It comes after the National Crime Agency (NCA) warned the\u00a0virus was increasingly being used as a “hook to commit fraud”<\/a>\u00a0and that such scams were “likely to increase” during the pandemic.<\/p>\n And it’s not just bogus health products being sold by fraudsters.<\/p>\n Some people hoping to buy kittens and puppies during the lockdown are\u00a0being conned with fake online advertisements, according to Action Fraud,\u00a0<\/a>with victims losing more than \u00a3280,000 in two months.<\/p>\n Source: bbc.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"