Scammers are calling people and offering a test for the COVID-19 virus, a treatment or a cure.
These calls are designed to encourage householders to either speak to someone, or press a button on their phone for more information.
Some calls and texts claim to be from the government, a GP’s surgery, the NHS, or even the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Callers are being contacted via their home phones and mobiles.
These scammers can leave you out of pocket.
Do NOT pass on personal information or your financial details.
Do NOT press a button on the phone as you could be connected to a high-cost premium number, leaving you liable for a significant call cost.
Scam texts often include links or attachments which can’t be trusted. Don’t click on them.
Here’s an example of a scam text as illustrated on the Ofcom website.
It claims to be from the government. On the left is the text; on the right is the web page you’ll be taken to if you click on the link in the text.
However, look at the URL – it does not link to the UK Government website and the grammar and spelling is poor. This is a fake website which requires you to enter your personal details.
More information is available on ScamwiseNI.