These are the coronavirus scams you need to know about - and how to spot them

Scammers are always on the lookout for vulnerable and scared people that they can take advantage of - and the coronavirus pandemic has created perfect conditions for exactly that. Numerous coronavirus-related scams have cropped up over the past few months, preying on people that are scared and anxious about the situation. Online safety awareness resource, Get Safe Online, has compiled a list of all the scams that they have been made aware of that the public should keep an eye out for. This list has been shared by the likes of official police force Twitter accounts. The scams to look out for Get Safe Online said, “In common with most other crisis situations, criminals are using emails, text messages, social media posts, online advertisements and phone calls to defraud their unsuspecting victims.” These are the scams that Get Safe Online has heard about that you need to keep an eye out for: What to do if you encounter these scams Get Safe Online offers this advice: You should never give your personal information and bank details to someone you don’t know or trust - places like your bank or the HMRC will not ask for sensitive information. Consumer rights watchdog Which? also has a comprehensive guide on how to spot a scam, which includes advice like: How to report a scam There are various ways you can report a scam. You can call the police on 101 if the scam is local and in your area (for example, someone came to your house pretending to be a charity and asking for donations) or you’ve transferred money to the scammer in the last 24 hours. You should phone 999 if you feel threatened or unsafe. You can also report an online scam to Citizens Advice via their online form here. Alternatively, you can also report a scam to Action Fraud either online here or via the phone on 0300 123 2040.